Donald (Don) J. Smisek Sr, age 83, of Lonsdale, MN, passed away peacefully at Lakeville BeeHive Homes on April 17, 2024, with family by his side.  He fought a long and courageous battle with dementia. Don is preceded in death by sons Tommy and Dennis, and parents Joe B. and Helen Smisek. Don was born June 2, 1940, on a family farm in Webster Township. He attended Lonsdale Catholic School through 8th grade and graduated from New Prague High School in 1959. He served in the US Marine Corps for 4 years.

Diane M. Schmitt, age 62, passed away on April 3, 2024, at Nagel Assisted Living in Waconia, MN. 
A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, April 21, 2024, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home, 4565 Pleasant Street SE, Prior Lake, MN. Her burial will follow at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Cemetery in New Prague, MN.

Laurie Beek-Korbel, age 59, of New Prague, passed away peacefully, in her sleep at home on Sunday, April 7, 2024.  She had been diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure on June 12 of 2022, and entered hospice care on February 28 of this year. Laurie was born on February 10, 1965, in Faribault to Donald & Evelyn (Timmers) Korbel.  She grew up on the family dairy farm in Kilkenny and graduated from Montgomery-Lonsdale High School in 1983.  She had 2 years advanced schooling in sales marketing and management and worked for K-Mart during those years.  Following her education, she worked for

Donna Hall, age 70, of Northfield, passed away at home, with her family by her side, on Wednesday morning, March 27, 2024.
Donna Mae (Sticha) Hall was born July 14, 1953, in New Prague, Minnesota, to Frank J. and Rose M. (Tupy) Sticha.  She was raised on the family farm at St. Patrick, attended St. Wenceslaus Parochial School and graduated from New Prague High School in 1971.  During her high school years Donna began working as a legal secretary and continued her education to become a Paralegal where she worked for O’Neill, Traxler, Goggins, and Zard for 20 years.

Mary Elizabeth (Chlan) Sirek, 90, of Lakeville, Minnesota, passed away on March 22, 2024. 
She was born August 26, 1933, in Webster, Minnesota, to parents Joseph and Agnus Chlan. Mary, alongside her late husband Stephen, dedicatedly raised a family of ten children and remained a devoted and nurturing (great) grandmother throughout her life. She will be missed by all who knew her. 

Peggy MaryAnn Wulke, age 74, of New Prague, MN, passed away on March 17, 2024. A Celebration of Peggy’s Life will be held from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. with closing words at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 9, 2024, at Ballard-Sunder Funeral & Cremation (104 First Street West) in Jordan. 

Maylon F. Palma, age 82, of New Prague, died peacefully, with his family at his side, after a lengthy stay at Mayo Clinic Health System Hospital Rochester.  Maylon was born on October 26, 1941, on the family farm in Webster, Scott County, to Myles M.

Rudolph “Rudy” Fahrenkamp, 92, of Jordan, passed away on March 19, 2024. His Christian Funeral will be held at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jordan (100 Sixth St West) on Saturday, March 23 at 11 a.m. There will be a time of visitation prior from 9:30-10:45 a.m.. Following the Christian Funeral, Rudy will be laid to rest at Spirit Hill Cemetery with Military Honors. Pastor Jeremy Glowicki will be presiding over the services. 

Sandra M. (Skluzacek) Tuma, born January 18, 1955, and formerly of Lonsdale, passed away March 16 after a hard fought battle against cancer. Preceded in death by her father Rudolph, she is survived by her mother Arlene of Lonsdale, her son Chad (Julie), daughter Amber (Chris) Gehrke and son Dustin (Leanna) and grandchildren and great grandchildren. Also survived by sisters Sharon (Ken) and Laure (Mike) and brothers Lyle (Sandi), Brian (Angie), Bruce (Lisa) and Eric (Bobbie).

Benjamin “Ben” James King, age 51, of New Prague, Minnesota, died tragically on March 13, 2024, in a drowning accident while on vacation with his family in Puerto Rico. While his family and friends are shocked by his passing, they are thankful for his life.

Walter J. Eischens, age 76, of Jordan passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, February 8, 2024.
Funeral Service will be May 4, 2024, at 10 a.m with a visitation an hour prior to service at St. Patrick Church of Cedar Lake 24425 Old Highway 13 Blvd Jordan, MN 55352

David Harry Noyes, age 74, of Prior Lake, passed away peacefully with staff by his side at VA Medical Center on Tuesday, February 20, 2024.
David was born to Harry and Leona Noyes and grew up on a farm in southwestern Minnesota as the eldest boy of eleven children. From a young age he milked Holstein cows, baled hay, and plowed fields. Despite dropping out of school to help on the farm, he earned his GED and studied meat cutting at Pipestone Vocational. 

Matthew James Soller, age 33, of rural New Prague, died suddenly Sunday morning, March 3, 2024 as a result of heart failure. Visitation will be at the Kolden Funeral Home in Belle Plaine on Sunday, March 10, starting at 1:00 p.m. and concluding at 5:00 p.m. with a short tribute service.

Mary (Doyle) Dillingham, very beloved wife, mother, grandmother and sister, died on March 1, 2024 at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, MN.
Mary was born on January 12, 1936 to Francis and Elizabeth (Heddle) Doyle. Raised on the family farm in Cedar Lake Township with three sisters and one brother, she attended New Prague Schools and attended the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.

Mary E. (Doyle) Dillingham, age 88, passed away on March 1, 2024.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM with a time of gathering from 10:00 - 11:00 AM on Tuesday, March 12, 2024 at St. Catherine Catholic Church of Spring Lake, 4500 220th St E, Prior Lake, MN 55372. Father George GrafskY will preside. Mary will be laid to rest at Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis.

Barbara Jean Weiers, 88, of New Prague, MN, passed away on the afternoon of February 22, 2024, with her children by her side at Mala Strana Assisted Living Center in New Prague, MN. 
She is preceded in death by her husband of 34 years, Robert Weiers of Union Hill, MN, and brothers Roy "Jerry" Deutsch and Daniel Deutsch of St. Paul, MN.