Obituaries

Julie Kay Smith died on Thursday, April 14, 2022 at her home in Sandstone. She was 66 years old.

David John Olson, 80, of Milan died on Thursday morning, April 14, 2022, at his home near Milan. Visitation was held at Kviteseid Lutheran Church in Milan on Tuesday, April 19, 2022, from 5 to 7 p.m., with a prayer service at 6:45 p.m., and continued Wednesday, April 20, from 10 to 11 a.m., followed by the funeral service at 11 a.m. Pastor Kristine Isder officiated. Burial was in Big Bend Lutheran Church Cemetery. Zniewski Funeral Home-Vaala Chapel assisted the family with the arrangements.

Cort C. Holten, 72, Minneapolis, passed away on April 8, 2022. Cort was a partner at the Chestnut Cambronne Law Firm for many years, most recently serving as of counsel, as well as continuing to represent clients at Summit Government Affairs Consulting. Cort will be remembered for his deep love of his family and practicing law. Cort was preceded in death by his parents, Herman and Lucille. Survived by his loving wife Diane, sons, Brent (Becky), Ryan (Melissa) and granddaughters Rory, Rayna and Bernadette; brother Thomas, sisters Nancy (Ed) Dack and Jane (Kevin) Myhre, and many nieces and nephews. Memorial Service was Wednesday, April 20, 2022 at 11 a.m. at Mt. Olivet Lutheran Church, 5025 Knox Ave S. Minneapolis. Visitation was Tuesday, April 19, 2022 from 4 until 7 p.m. at the Edina Chapel and one hour prior to the service at the church. www.Wash burn-McReavy.com. Edina Chapel, West 50th St & Hwy 100.

Jon “Whoopie” Alan Anderson of Granite Falls was called from this life to eternal life on April 15, 2022 after holding on to hope and having faith and a strong will to live. Jon was born August 30, 1961 in Clarkfield to Orville and MayEllen Anderson.

Kathryn Mae Korte, 88, of Eau Claire, Wis., and formerly of Galena, Ill., died March 27, 2022, at Heritage Assisted Living in Eau Claire. A funeral mass was held at 11 a.m., Friday, April 1, 2022, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Galena. Visitation took place at the church one hour prior to the mass. Burial followed in Greenwood Cemetery, Galena. The Furlong Funeral Chapel, Galena assisted the family. She was born in Montevideo on January 18, 1934, to Stanley and Clara Anderson. She was raised in Montevideo with her three siblings and graduated from Montevideo High School in the Class of 1952. Kathy met the love of her life, Robert Korte from Galena whose parents had moved to Montevideo during his time in the service. Kathy and Bob were married in Montevideo on June 20, 1953. After living in Minneapolis for a short time, they moved to Eau Claire in 1955. Kathy enjoyed a long career working in insurance sales with Insurance Associates of Eau Claire and was their first office manager. She also trained office staff in other locations. She was a long-time member of St. Olaf’s Catholic Church in Eau Claire, served as church secretary, and sang in the church choir. Kathy was active in a number of organizations including the Parrish Council of Catholic Women, American Business Women’s Association, and Catholic Daughters of the Americas #572. She also volunteered as a Camp Fire Girl leader, Cub Scout den mother, the Galena Hospital Gift Shop, and was a proud member of the Galena VFW Auxiliary. Kathy was well known for baking numerous and delicious apple pies, made with apples sliced by her skillful assistant and husband, Bob. Kathy and Bob enjoyed card clubs, trips to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, playing golf with their many friends, and spending time with family. Kathy and Bob loved, and always maintained strong ties to his Galena background. Kathy and Bob owned the old Spring Creek School on Blackjack Road and used it as a summer cottage for several years. Following their retirement, they remodeled and converted “the cottage” into a year-round home and moved there permanently. They later moved to a condominium on Shadow Bluff Drive in Galena before moving back to Eau Claire in 2018. Her survivors include a daughter, Vicki (Mark) Hagen; sons, Roy Korte (Donna Lee) and Terry (Charo) Korte; grandsons, Derek Hagen, David Korte, and Adam Korte; granddaughter, Marissa Korte (Mark Hutchinson); a sister, Carol (Gordon) Pitt; a brother-in-law, Donald (Peg) Korte; sister-in-law, Carol (Max) Hinde; daughter-in-Law, Kathy Osvat; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Bob in 2021, brother, Gerald Anderson; sister, Shirley Parke; fatherand mother-in-law, Roy and Gen Korte; brothers-in-law, Kent Knutson, James Parke, and Stanley Marrs; and sisters-in-law, Barbara Anderson and Jean Marrs. Special thanks to the fantastic staff at Heritage Assisted Living for their wonderful and dedicated care, especially to Erin and Ceili. In lieu of flowers, please donate to a charity of your choice.

Nancy Ryman of Montevideo died on Monday, April 11, 2022 at St. Cloud Hospital at the age of 80.

Earl Norman, Montevideo, died on Friday, April 2022 at his home at the age of 78. .

Mark Laechelt was born July 20, 1958 at the Clarkfield Hospital in Clarkfield to Merlyn and Alice (Wick) Laechelt. Mark was one of six children. As second to the youngest, he and his little brother Merle were always getting into some kind of trouble. Mom knew, when it was too quiet, that they were up to something.