Obituaries

RUTH E. HOIEN, age 92, formerly of Litchfield, passed away on Friday, July 31st at her home in Annandale.

A memorial service will be held at 1:00 PM on Friday August 7, 2026 at Zion Lutheran Church in Litchfield with visitation one hour prior to the service at the church.

Interment will be held at Ripley Cemetery.

Ruth is survived by her husband – Quinten “Lefty” Hoien of Annandale

Children – Steven & (Vicki) Hoien of Annandale, Mark & (Kathrine) Hoien of Maple Grove, and John & (DeAnna) Hoien of Buffalo

Grandchildren – Kristi & (Mark) Abrahamson, David & (Mallory) Hoien, Austin Hoien, Alexa Hoien, and Nicholas Hoien

Great grandson – Trenten Abrahamson

Sister-in-law – Maurine Dyrdahl

Brother-in-law and Sister-in-law – Michael and Naomi Hoien and many nieces and nephews

Memorials are preferred to the Zion Lutheran Church.

Arrangements by Johnson Hagglund Funeral and Cremation Service of Litchfield.

73-year-old THOMAS D. LINDSEY of Litchfield passed away peacefully on July 30, 2026 at Meeker Manor Care Center in Litchfield. Johnson-Hagglund Funeral and Cremation Service of Litchfield is handling the arrangements.

A Celebration of Life is planned at the Litchfield Golf Club on Thursday, August 27, 2026 from 3-to-5:30 p.m.  

Burial will be held at Lake Ripley Cemetery on Friday, August 28, at 10 a.m. 

Memorials are preferred to the American Kidney Fund or the donor’s choice.

Tom Lindsey is survived by extended family and many friends who became like family to him.

82-year-old CHARLES “CHUCK” MICHAEL RICK passed away on Thursday, July 30, 2026 surrounded by family at the St. Cloud Hospital.

A funeral service will be held at 11 A.M. on Tuesday, August 4, 2026 at the Church of St. Philip in Litchfield. Visitation will be held from 9-to-11 A.M. prior to the service at the church.

Burial will be held at St. Gertrude’s Catholic Cemetery in Forest City. 

Chuck is survived by his loving wife of 61 years – Margie, of Watkins

Children – Brenda Rick, Christine Wiles (Derek Wiles) and Dan Rick (Sydney Rick)

Grandchildren – Abigail Erickson, Madison Erickson, Reece Erickson, and Meryl Rick

Brother – Art Rick

Sister – Joan Kuechle

Arrangements are with Johnson-Hagglund Funeral & Cremation Service of Litchfield.

87-year-old JUANITA MARIE VERHEY, 87, of Cokato passed away peacefully in her sleep on July 19th, 2026 at the Cokato Manor. 

A Celebration of Life for Nita will be held at the Dassel History Center on August 16 from 1–to-3 p.m.  Nita will be laid to rest beside Ted at Fort Snelling on August 18, 2026.

Nita is survived by her sister – Patricia Sommerfeld

Children – Timothy (Sue) Sarver-Verhey, Dominic (Andrea) Verhey, Gail Schulte, Jennifer (Brian) Wulff, Sue Verhey, and Jeremiah (Jennah) Verhey

Grandchildren – Nicholas (Merideth) Schulte, Michael (Joti) Schulte, Caitlin (John) Bergstrom, Riley (Courtney) Schulte, Abigail Sarver-Verhey, Jacob Sarver-Verhey, Noah (Rachel) Wulff, Jenavieve Verhey, Simon Wulff, Jasper Verhey, Zoe Verhey and Jorjah Verhey

Great-grandchildren – August Schulte, Hayes Schulte, and Jack Schulte

Arrangements are with Johnson Funeral Home in Dassel.

DALE DONALD JOHNSON passed away on July 8, 2026.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, July 25th, 2026 from 2-to-5 p.m. at the Forest City Threshers building at 64917 309th Street, northeast of Litchfield. A short prayer service will begin at 2 p.m. with food and memories to follow. If you feel inclined, please wear a Rolling Stones shirt, hat, etc. – Dale’s favorite rock band. 

Dale Johnson is survived by his wife of 48 years – Terri

Daughters – Melissa (& Mike) Kielty of Watkins, Michele (& Jared) Shnyder of Litchfield and Miranda (& Jesse) Gunderson of Forest City

Grandchildren – Tanner and McKenna Kielty, Keira (& Cameron) and Kaleb Shnyder

Sisters – Bonnie (& Tony) Ogdahl of Willmar and Kathy (& Gary) Cervin of Darwin

Sisters-in-law – Tammy (& Lyal) Piatte of Billings, MT and Trisha Mayer of Litchfield; and by many nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbors and friends.

76-year-old JUDITH “JUDY” MARKGRAF of Watkins passed away on July 14, 2026 at Edgewood Assisted Living in Sartell.

A funeral service will be held at 11 A.M. on Friday July 24, 2026, at the Church of St. Philip in Litchfield.

Visitation will be on Thursday from 3-to-6:30 p.m. at the Church of St. Philip with a prayer service at 5:30.
 
Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church. A Rosary will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Friday at the church. 

Burial will be held at the Forest City Cemetery.
 
Judy is survived by her children – Jody Markgraf of Big Lake, David (Jessica) Markgraf of Sauk Rapids, Robert 
(Jenny) Markgraf of Augusta, WI, Jillhanna (Jeremy) DuMonceaux of Sauk Rapids, Joshua (Cassandra) 
Markgraf of St Stephen, Erin Markgraf of Sauk Rapids and Kristi Markgraf (Justin Hutton) of Richmond

Grandchildren – Camen Miles (Teagan Morrison); Jacob, Hannah, & Levi Markgraf, Patience & Jazlyn Meier; 
Isaac, Emma (Cashton Warner), Dominic, Violet & Ashley Markgraf; Trace Markgraf and Lillian & Cora 
DuMonceaux; Taylor (Dylan Geiselhart) & Carl Markgraf; Triston Miller; and Gavin Markgraf

Great- grandson – Grey Miles

Brothers – Richard Schultz and Charles (Kayleen) Schultz

Sisters-in-law – Ann Schultz & Alice Hamann, Patricia (Edward) Markgraf, Karen (Jerry) Swenson, Lynette (David) Rosenau, Darlyn Markgraf, and Vicky Martin, dozens of cousins, nieces, nephews, and close friends