NRHEG Star Eagle

137 Years Serving the New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva Area
Newspaper of Record for NRHEG School District
Newspaper of Record for Waseca County, MN
PO Box 248 • New Richland, MN 56072

507-463-8112
email: steagle@hickorytech.net
Published every Thursday
Yearly Subscription: Waseca, Steele, and Freeborn counties: $52
Minnesota $57 • Out of state $64

Edwin "Ed" Gordon Jensen of Ellendale, MN passed away peacefully in his sleep on June 1, 2023 at Whispering Oak Place in Ellendale, MN; he was 94 years old, one month shy of his 95th birthday. 

Edwin “Ed” Gordon Jensen was born July 2, 1928 in Ida Grove, Iowa to Gordon and Clara (Sward) Jensen. He lived there for a short time until his parents moved to Clarks Grove, MN to stay with Gordon’s parents on their farm just east of town.  Edwin attended first grade in the Freeborn County School District #23, about one mile SE of Clarks Grove. 

They moved several times (Maple Island) before they settled in their home in Geneva where Ed, his 3 brothers, Marshall, Wyman, and Dennis and sister, Joanne grew up.  Ed attended Geneva School through 8th grade and then attended Ellendale High School; graduating in 1947.  He played football and baseball in high school. 

Early Saturday morning, May 27th, 2023, Agnes Theressa Christensen passed away peacefully in her beloved farmhouse near Bath Township where she had lived for over 70 years.  Agnes was born at Naeve Hospital in Albert Lea, Minnesota, on November 11, 1928, to Lawrence and Olga Martin. She joined her brother, James, and sister, Katherine, on a farm site in Freeborn County where she grew to embrace the country life while developing the necessary hard work ethic required to “make a go of things”.  Agnes would share many stories about climbing the silo to throw down silage as a young child; hand milking cows before going to school only to come home to do it again (before meals and schoolwork); weeding onions in Hollandale, Mn, for 50 cents an hour so she could buy war bonds; ice-skating on Geneva Lake; memorizing and reciting poems during school programs—“Oh Captain My Captain” was a personal favorite.  She treasured having a kind mother who took good care of her family modeling the type of mother she would strive to become.  

Douglas Edwin Smith, 70, of Le Mars, IA, passed away on Saturday, May 13, 2023 at UnityPoint Health-St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center in Sioux City, IA.

He was born June 16, 1952 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the son of John and Gladys (Jolson) Smith.  At age 7, the family moved to a farm near Blooming Prairie where he grew up.  Doug attended school in Blooming Prairie where he was active in baseball and wrestling.  He graduated from Blooming Prairie High School in 1970.  Doug continued his education at Pipestone Vocational Technical Institute studying Meat Cutting and graduated in 1971.  He was drafted into the National Guard and served from 1972 to 1979. 

Helen Gilma Grunwald, 89, of Owatonna, died Saturday, May 27, 2023 at the Birchwood Cottages in Owatonna.

Helen was born on May 5, 1934 in Albert Lea to Wilken and Gilma (Warke) Wilkenson. She grew up on the family farm in the New Richland area, attended country school, and graduated from New Richland High School in 1952. She was baptized and confirmed at the Le Sueur River Lutheran Church. After high school Helen worked at Federated in Owatonna. On August 27, 1955, she was united in marriage to James L. Grunwald at Le Sueur River Lutheran Church. They moved to Waseca and she worked for E.F. Johnson Company until having children. She stayed home to raise her children until the fall of 1966 when she went to work for the Mishek Co. in Waseca. She worked there for 40 years before going to work at Lincoln Suppliers, retiring in 2016 at the age of 81. As a young woman, Helen loved working on the family farm, milking cows, doing chores and field work. She also loved her church, teaching Sunday school and playing the piano. Later in life Helen continued her love of being outside growing flowers, watching birds, camping and watching car races. She was an avid Timberwolves fan and had season tickets for a number of years. She enjoyed trips with James in their motor home; especially to Branson and Nashville. She was a longtime member of Grace Lutheran Church in Waseca before moving to Owatonna where she was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church. She was a remarkable mother who was always willing to help and provide support when asked by her family. Always checking on how the "little people" are doing, referring to her great-grandchildren, who she was so very proud of.

Jayne Marie Vairma of New Richland passed away peacefully at her home on May 17th, 2023 with her best friend and husband, Brian Douglas Vairma, giving comfort and care as Jayne went to meet her Heavenly Father after a long and hard-fought battle with cancer.

Jayne was born December 27, 1962, in Anchorage, Alaska, to parents Ruth (Hatle) and Lyle Strand. Jayne, the youngest of three children, moved to Minnesota and was raised in the New Richland/Albert Lea area alongside her older brothers Lynn and Terry Strand. Jayne graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1982 after blazing new trails in softball and one of the very first girl hockey teams to play in the community. Her adult softball team went on to compete in the DNR Nationals. It was her love of sports that her husband, Brian, said made her a fierce competitor. After graduating, Jayne went on to receive a certification in Food and Lab Safety through Riverland.