Ruth Hoofhower, age 94, of Belle Plaine, MN, entered eternal peace on Tuesday evening, December 21, 2021, at Oak Terrace Senior Living, in Jordan, MN. 
 A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Wednesday, December 29, at 11 am, with a visitation from 9-10:45 am, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 313 Second Street East, Jordan. Father Neil Bakker presided. Ruth was laid to rest at St. John Calvary Cemetery. 

Dorri Lynn Yackley, age 62 of Belle Plaine, was welcomed into her heavenly home on December 21, 2021. A visitation will take place from 3-6 p.m. on Thursday, December 30, 2021, at the Kolden Funeral Home in Belle Plaine. Following the visitation, family and friends are invited to the Neisen’s Corner Bar – Rustic Room in Belle Plaine.

Margaret Henry, age 69 of Northfield, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, December 25, 2021, at Fairview Southdale Hospital in Edina. Very soon after she was surrounded by her family and so much love as they processed the unimaginable.

Mary Ann Ruehling, age 62, of New Prague, died on Christmas Day at Mayo Clinic Health System Hospital - Rochester.  Services January 8, 2021.  Full obituary next week.

Amy Schmitz, age 58, was welcomed to her Heavenly home while peacefully surrounded by her family on December 24, 2021. It was her Christmas miracle after a difficult and courageous battle with corticobasal degeneration.

Joyce Christine (Meyer) Ewing, age 81, of Chaska, MN, died on Sunday, December 19, 2021 at Fairview Southdale Hospital in Edina, MN.
 Funeral Service was on Thursday, December 23, 2021, 1:00 PM at the Bertas Funeral Home, 200 West Third Street, Chaska, MN, with Father Nick Van Den Broeke officiating. The visitation was one hour prior to the service. The burial was at the Preiss Cemetery, Cologne, MN. Memorials are preferred to the Preiss Cemetery.

Mike was born September 25, 1958 in Kansas City, Missouri to John and Nancy Means.  He graduated in 1976 from Yukon High School, Yukon, Oklahoma.     
 Although he moved around during childhood his heart was fond of his home state: Oklahoma. On June 3, 1978 he married Karen Govett and celebrated 43 years with his best friend in marriage.  They lived a majority of their life in Oklahoma but moved to Virginia in 2003 where he enjoyed diving into the history of the United States. 

Sister Marilyn Skluzacek, OP, was the 7th child born to Celia (Malecha) and John T. Skluzacek on July 17, 1940. Pased away on Dec. 10, 2021 at Dominican Villa in Sinsinawa, WI. Marilyn attended I.C School in Lonsdale, MN, then went to high school at Bethlehem Academy in Faribault, MN, and graduated in 1958. In the summer after graduation Marilyn applied to the Sinsinawa Dominicans for entrance to their order.

With shy smiles, a few giggles and some nervous energy by the younger participants, more than 30 children presented the Christmas story at St. John’s Catholic Church of Union Hill the morning of Sunday, Dec. 19. The church’s annual Children’s Christmas Pageant was a reminder of what the season is about, a baby born in a simple manger, who was honored by angels, shepherds and kings. Originally planned for Wednesday, Dec. 15, the pageant was postponed due to warnings of high winds. The Sunday pageant had older children holding hands of younger ones to help them in their parts.

The 62nd SnoBowl, the longest running alumni snow football game in the world, will be played on New Year’s Day, Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022 at 12 noon in New Prague’s Memorial Park. The game, played between the Ptarmigans and Polars, with teams made up of New Prague High School alumni, will see who can come away with the win this year.

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in New Prague held a ribbon cutting ceremony for a new addition to its building on Friday, Dec. 17. Co-pastor Ben Hilding offered a brief history on the new wing of the church and prayers for it.
Among the 26 people present were representatives of the church and those that were involved in its design and construction, including Bruce Caulfield, Marv Deutsch, Mike Solheid and Shannon Allen. Dr. George Winn and his wife Joan were recognized for their generosity and leadership with Dr. Winn cutting the ribbon for the ceremony.

Three New Prague boys basketball players scored in double figures and a fourth player scored nine points in a 65-59 win over Jordan Tuesday, Dec. 14.
Ethan Chromy led the offense with 21 points. Matthew Kudrle added 13, Jaxon Short 12, and Noah Washa nine.
“We played very well throughout the first half. We executed on the offensive end and were able to make the shots that we were getting,” head coach Dan Peterka said.
“Defensively we were doing a good job of holding them to one shot per possession. We did a good job of getting...

Leo Pomerenke, Special to The New Prague TImes
The New Prague High School boys hockey team had two tough losses in the last week, as the Trojans lost 6-1 to the Chaska Hawks on Tuesday, Dec. 14, and were shut out by the Chanhassen Storm 5-0 on Saturday, Dec. 18.
Five different Hawks scored for Chaska, scoring two goals in every period. Chaska’s Tanner Bruender was the only one who scored multiple times for the Hawks, who scored off of the five hole and a rebound.

Marvin Dale Way born 5/28/1929 in Scott County, Elko New Market, MN and passed away peacefully on 12/20/21 at the age of 92 at Mala Strana Rehabilitation Center in New Prague, MN.  Dad enjoyed playing horseshoes, playing bingo, pull tabs, listening to the older country western music and movies, and he also enjoyed watching/listening to the Twins and Vikings games. One could always see him with his cowboy hat on and most likely with a beer in his hand.

The Elko New Market Police Department reported in a press release that, "On Tuesday, Dec. 21, at approximately 12:20 p.m., New Market Bank in Elko New Market was robbed. No weapon was implied or brandished. Nobody was injured during the incident. The robber fled with an undisclosed amount of money. There is no reason to believe that there is a threat to the general public. The robbery is currently under investigation." For more see an upcoming print issue of The New Prague Times.

Virgil Anthony Gast, age 81, of Jordan, was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.  He was called home by our LORD on December 18, 2021. The family will greet guests on Tuesday, December 28 from 5pm-7pm at Ballard-Sunder Funeral and Cremation in Jordan. A Celebration of Life will take place at a later date.
Virgil was born on February 23, 1940, in St. Bonifacius, MN to Celestine “Sam” Gast and Anna (Laumann) Gast.  He is the second oldest of seven boys. He graduated from Jordan High School in 1959.