Mary Anne Klein was born on November 24, 1925 in Regent, ND to Michael and Margaret Klein. On June 26, 1946 she married Ralph “Ray” Friedt at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Rochester. Along with raising the family, Mary worked at Saint Marys Hospital, Waters Conley Company, and as a personal caretaker for Mrs. Ruth Masson. She enjoyed cooking, gardening, playing cards, camping, bingo, breakfast with her morning church-group friends, traveling and spending time with children and grandchildren. Together with Ray, she enjoyed many winters in Arizona and summers at their cabin in Wisconsin.

Survivors include her husband “Ray” of over 65 years, her children, Garold “Gary” (Cindy) Friedt of Rochester, DeLora (Bruce) Bartelt of Belle Plaine, MN, Roger (Paula) Friedt of Rochester, Rhonda (Jim *belated) Grob of Auburn, CA, Renee (Jay) Ean of Rochester, Karri (Forrest) Boe of Hastings, MN, Jay (Karen) Friedt of Rochester, and Sara (Mark) Krier of Mazeppa, MN, 26 grandchildren, and 24 great-grandchildren, siblings, Joe (Lois) Klein, Ceil Fritsch and Kate Messmer all of Rochester, Emma Friedt of Mott, ND, Ray (Shirley) Klein of Sequim, WA, and Margaret (Matt) Helfrich of Billings, MT.

She is preceded in death by her parents, seven siblings, a grandson, and a son-in-law.

A Memorial Mass for Mary will be held at 2:00PM on Monday, May 21, 2012 at Resurrection Catholic Church in Rochester. Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the church.

Memorials are preferred to the Lung Cancer Association and The Nature Conservancy.

Online Condolences are welcome at www.mackenfuneralhome.com

Mr. Clarkson, age 98, of Eyota died Tuesday May 15, 2012 peacefully at home with family at his bed side. Russell was born June 2, 1913 to Thomas and Sarah Clarkson at Kirksville, Missouri. He then moved to Iowa where he was raised. After his father’s death, he took over the training of horses. He married Doris (Forney) Clarkson in 1937, and she died Friday, October 21, 2011 in Wabasha, MN. He worked very hard all of his life to provide for his family. His final job before retiring in 1972 was at the Rochester Public Utilities, where he worked for 27 years.

Survivors include his two sons, Ron Clarkson of Austin, Texas and Darrell Clarkson of Oklahoma City , Oklahoma, and two daughters, Charlotte Youngs of Mazeppa and Kathy Ochs of Eyota, several grandchildren and great-grandchildren also survive. Russell was preceded in death by his wife and two sons, James and Robert.

Russell enjoyed his retirement by traveling with his wife, going on fishing trips, and working at the flea markets. He also enjoyed working on bikes for the neighborhood kids, and gardening.

Macken Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences are welcome at www.mackenfuneralhome.com.

Edward was born August 27, 1924 in Whitehall Wisconsin where he grew up and attended local schools.  He served in WWII in the 82^nd Airborne Division Glider Infantry.

Edward married Lavina Blackburn on August 27, 1947.  The couple raised their family in Wisconsin before moving to Rochester about forty years ago.  He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend.

He was a commercial artist and owned and operated Edward Signs in Rochester and Stewartville.

Edward will be missed by his wife Lavina, two sons, Mark (Katie) Van Tassel and Todd (Debbie) Van Tassel both of Rochester; a daughter, Julie Gettman of Snowmass Colorado, 9 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and 5 great-great grandchildren and a sister, Bea Van Tassel of Whitehall WI.  He was preceded in death by a daughter, Rita Willhite and a brother, George Van Tassel.

The Funeral Service will be held at 11:00AM Friday, May 18, 2012 in the River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home in Rochester, officiated by Father Charlie Collins, with Military Rites provided by American Legion Post 92. Visitation will be from 5:00PM – 8:00PM, Thursday, May 17, 2012 in the River Park Chapel and one hour prior to the service on Friday.  Burial will take place at a later date in Pigeon Falls, Wisconsin.

On-line condolences are welcome at www.mackenfuneralhome.com.

Connie was born on February 22, 1955 to parents Calvin and Phyllis (Nemitz) Heydt. She was a loving sister to Nancy (Dick) Nelson of Charles City, IA, Garth (Karen) Heydt of Hutchinson, MN, and Jodi Heydt of Austin, MN, and loving aunt to numerous nieces and nephews. Connie lived in Sargeant, MN, for 2 years before moving to Austin, MN where she graduated high school in 1973. She attended Rochester Community College and graduated with a nursing degree. She worked as an RN at St Marys Hospital in neurology for 34 years before retiring in 2010.

On June 21, 1980, Connie married Rickey G. Krueger at Homestead United Methodist Church in Rochester. He survives. The couple made their home in Wabasha, MN, until moving to Rochester in 1981. They remained residents of Rochester until her death.

Connie was an ardent caregiver and lover of animals of all kinds. She was devoted to her family and career and constantly put the needs of others above her own. Connie had a beautiful and generous spirit that she willingly shared with all who entered her life. She will be dearly missed.

Connie was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Steven. Visitation will be held in the River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home on Tuesday, May 15, 2012 from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. The funeral service will be held at Autumn Ridge Church on Wednesday, May 16^th, 2012, at 11:00 am with the Rev. C. John Steer officiating. Visitation will take place from 10:00 to 11:00 prior to the service. Burial will be at Grandview Memorial Gardens.

Memorials are preferred to Paws and Claws.

Employed with Northwestern Bell for 30 years until his retirement. He was very active as a union representative for the AFL CIO and was union president for CWA communication workers of America for many years.

Dick was very active in the Democratic party and had been a delegate to district, state and national conventions. In 1979 he and his wife were guests of President Jimmy Carter at the White House. They were recipients of the Joe Guzinski Award for recognition of dedicated and outstanding service in 1993.

Dick was involved in coaching youth football in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s as well as being involved with the Boy Scouts. He was an Eagle Scout, wood badge chip recipient and was awarded the Silver Beaver for work with the boy scouts. He was a vigil member of Blue Ox Lodge and Order of the Arrow. A long time member the Eagles, The Disabled America Veterans, the America Legion post 573 in Elgin and charter member of the Sons of the Legion. He was a drummer in the 330^rd Army Band during Korea as well as Drum and Bugle Corps out of St. Peter and Austin, Mn.

He loved to hunt and fish and wintered in AZ

Survivors include sons, Steven (Monica) of Elgin, Mn., Kevin (Laurajean) of Rochester Mn., Jay ( Debbra) of Rochester, Mn. and his daughter Normajean of Austin, Texas. Three grandchildren, Curt, Angela (Brad) and Scott (Nikki). Three great grandsons. The triplets, Jaxon, Jagger and Jordan who loved getting their $2 bills from their great grandpa and survived also by his special friend Joan Buske a    brother, Allen (Arlene) Rud and a sister, Eileen Attenberger and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife Phyllis Ann, parents and grandson Jamison Robert Rud.

The funeral service for Richard Rud will be at 1:00 PM on Thursday May 17th at Autumn Ridge Church in the Timothy Chapel with Pastor Andy Kumpel officiating. Viewing one hour prior to services at the church. Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 7:00 PM on Wednesday May 16th at Macken Funeral Home in the River Park Chapel.

Dick’s family requested the Bell of Honor.

Burial in Oakwood cemetery with Military Honors by the American Legion Post 92.

Macken Funeral Home in charge  of arrangements.

Online condolences are welcome at www.mackenfuneralhome.com

Mr. Wade, 93 of Rochester, died at Golden Living Center West on Thursday, May 11, 2012.

Willard was born July 12, 1918 in Kalmar Township, Minnesota to Ellis and Tressa (Holmes) Wade.  He graduated from Rochester High School in 1935.  He attended classes at Rochester Junior College.  He married Marian Maloney in 1938 and was later divorced.  He leaves behind his partner, Elaine Stokes, whom he had a blessed union with since March 1991.  He was a 2^nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army.  He owned the food service at Brown Derby and also owned Vogue Eat Shop.   He was the owner and operator of Wade’s Broiler from 1959 to 1989.

Survivors include his two sons, Michael (Marilyn) Wade of Stanchfield, Minnesota and Billy Wade of Lake City, Minnesota; three daughters, Judy (John) Walter of Byron, Minnesota, Linda Wade of Houston, Texas and Teri Tesch-Wade of Rochester; He is also survived by his Step-children: Connie (Al) Perry, Tom Stokes, John (Mary Lou) Stokes and Rita (Mark) Krupp; 20 grandchildren; 23 great grandchildren and 4 great-great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by two sisters, one daughter, two grandsons and one infant granddaughter.

Willard was a former and long-time member of the YMCA, the Elks Drum and Bugle Corps where he was a drum major; a member of the American Legion Post 92 and also a former member of the West Side Kiwanis International Club where he served as Lieutenant Governor of Division I, MN-Dakota District from 1974-1975.  Willard was also a past volunteer with the Meals on Wheels.

Macken Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.  Online condolences are welcome at www.mackenfuneralhome.com.

Surviving Hazel are her husband of 65 years, Norman; their children, Marcia, Gary and Brenda; two brothers; seven grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.  Hazel was preceded in death by her parents, four sisters and two brothers.

Visitation is in the River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home on Friday, May 11^th from 4:00p.m. – 7:00p.m. and 1 hour prior to service at the church.   Celebration of Life will be held at Zumbro Lutheran Church on Saturday, May 12^th at 11:00a.m.

Burial will be at West St. Olaf Church following reception. In Lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Zumbro Lutheran Church.

Macken Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Online condolences are welcome at www.mackenfuneralhome.com

Sgt. Dickhut, age 23, died from injuries while engaged in combat April 30, 2012 in Zharay, Afghanistan.  He had been serving with the 5-20 Army Infantry Regiment and attached to the 82^nd Airborne Division.

He was born December 31, 1988 in Burnsville, Minnesota. He grew up in Stewartville and graduated from high school there in 2007. He helped initiate the Chess Club and won many trophies with his skill.  He attended post-secondary classes at Rochester Community and Technical College while a junior and senior at Stewartville High. In 2008 he enlisted in the Army and was stationed in Tacoma, Washington. He was first deployed to Iraq and then to Afghanistan in December of 2011.

On October 28, 2011 he married Aliesha Glidden in Rochester. He met Aliesha at the young age of 14 and they had been good friends before and during their marriage.  She survives.

Nick was considering the options of attending flight school in Arizona after military service or re-enlisting with the hope of attending jump school and being part of an airborne unit in Italy. He was a member of the Society for Creative Anachronism, an international organization dedicated to researching and re-creating the arts and skills of pre-17^th century Europe.

In addition to his wife he is survived by his parents, Jacqueline and Randall Carson of Rochester; two half-brothers, David Carson, at home and Christopher Dickhut of Fayetteville, AR; a step-brother, Keith Rosendahl of West Concord and two step-sisters, Natasha Carson of Rochester and Alexandria Rosendahl, of Owatonna. Also surviving are his maternal grandparents, Lloyd and Marie Dickhut of Rochester. He was preceded in death by two uncles, Michael Dickhut and his godfather, David Dickhut and an infant cousin, Idris Bryant.

Mrs. Fitzpatrick 84 of St. Michael, MN, formerly of Rochester, died Sunday April 29, 2012 in St. Michael surrounded by family after a short battle with cancer.

Bonnie was born September 21, 1927 in Carroll, Iowa to William and Margaret (Kalb) Wegner. She married Thomas E. Fitzpatrick January 8, 1949 at St. Francis Catholic Church in Rochester. Thomas died June 11^th 1998. She had been a resident of Rochester until 2007, when she moved to St. Michael to be closer to family.

Bonnie was an accounting clerk for Mayo Clinic and retired after 32 years. She was a past president of the American Legion Auxiliary.

She is survived by two daughters; Sandy (Robert) Mariotti of St. Michael, MN and Debra (Tim) Sisler of Albertville, MN; three grandchildren, B.J. (Stephanie) Mariotti, Marie (Blake) Graczyk and Tina Clyde; five great-grandchildren, Miah and Myles Graczyk, Isabella, Dominick and Luca Mariotti. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Thomas, two sisters, Adelyn Strickland and Marge Blakley and a special friend, Dennis Christensen.

Memorials are suggested to the Minnesota Angel Foundation. On-line condolences are welcome at www.mackenfuneralhome.com.