Obituaries
Joan Ellen Smith
Sep 22, 2026
Joan E. Smith, age 80, passed away early Tuesday morning, September 22, 2026, at the Emmanuel Nursing Home in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. Joan was born October 21, 1945, in Pelican Rapids, MN to the late Garner & Isabel (Severson)Smith. Private services will be held at the convenience of the family. The David-Donehower Funeral & Cremation Service in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota...
Leonard Matthew Heltemes
Sep 20, 2026
Leonard Matthew Heltemes, age 83, passed away Sunday, September 20, 2026. Full life tribute to follow.
Mary Patricia Topp
Sep 19, 2026
Mary Patricia Murray was born on May 23, 1951 in Pierre, SD and raised by her loving parents Raymond and Leonora Murray. She graduated high school in Redfield, SD and slowly made her way to the Red River Valley area where she raised her five children. Mary eventually moved east to Detroit Lakes, the town she would come to call...
Marilyn Ann Windschitl
Sep 18, 2026
Marilyn Ann (Woldengen) Windschitl
Marilyn was born on the farm in Franklin, MN to Clarence and Anna (Weinzetl) Woldengen. After graduating from Fairfax High School, as salutatorian, in 1957, she attended Mankato State to become an elementary teacher. On a hot, August 4th, 1959, she married Raymond Windschitl at St. Andrew's Catholic Church in Fairfax. She began her teaching career in...
Ray Keith Schmaltz
Sep 16, 2026
Ray was born in Hillsboro ND on July 31, 1956, and passed on September 16, 2026. He graduated from Hillsboro High School. He worked doing maintenance on a variety of farm equipment for various implement dealers, farmers, and trucking companies in Hillsboro.
In 2006, he married Yvonne. In 2012, they moved to Yvonne's family farm, and he finished his career...
Gary Allan LaGue Sr.
Sep 15, 2026
Gary Allan LaGue Sr., age 73, of Waubun, Minnesota, passed away unexpectedly at his home on Tuesday, September 15, 2026.
Visitation will be Monday, September 21st, 2026 at 3:00pm with funeral service following at 4:00pm at Elbow Lake Lutheran Church in Waubun, located just across the street from Gary's home.
Gary Allan LaGue Sr. was born on March 10, 1953, in White...
Glenna Marie Mastel
Sep 15, 2026
Glenna Marie Wilson Mastel, 85, of Detroit Lakes, MN, passed away peacefully on September 15, 2026, at Essentia Health Oak Crossing. Born on November 11, 1940, in Aberdeen, SD, to Glen and Marie Wilson,
Glenna lived a life full of family and friends. She was formerly married to Charles Mastel, and together they were blessed with three children whom she loved...
Robert (Bob) Brockmann
Sep 15, 2026
Robert “Bob” Brockmann, age 80, of Fort Myers, FL, and Rochert, MN, passed away Tuesday, September 15, at his home on Cotton Lake.
Bob was born on July 16, 1946, in Fairmont, MN, the son of Albert and Viola “Rose” (Anderson) Brockmann, older brother to Judi (Leet). He built a life through a combination of hard work and luck, attracting people...
Craig Russell Fontaine
Sep 8, 2026
Son, Brother, Uncle, Cousin, and FriendIt is with extreme sadness that we announce the passing of Craig Russell Fontaine of Detroit Lakes on Tuesday, September 8, 2026.
Craig was born on October 3, 1954, at the Deaconess Hospital in Grand Forks, North Dakota, the son of Obert and Carol (Paulsrud) Fontaine. He was baptized at his parents home by Reverend Carl...
Gary Lee Kaatz
Aug 29, 2026
Gary Lee Kaatz, age 81, was called to his eternal resting place on August 29, 2026, following a brief stay at HIA Heather's House in Fargo, North Dakota. Gary was born on August 10, 1945, in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, to the late Raymond Bernie Kaatz and Clarissa Elizabeth (Harpster) Kaatz.
On October 22, 1966, Gary married the love of his life,...
Henriette "Henri" Knutson
Aug 28, 2026
Henriette “Henri” Knutson passed away peacefully on August 28 at age 95. Henri was born on June 19, 1931, in Red Lake Falls, Minnesota, the youngest of Medore and Eva Rose (nee Fournier) LaPlante’s four French daughters. Henri grew up on a farm in Gervais Township and loved working in the fields with her father. Her first language was French,...
Clifford Selck
Aug 26, 2026
Clifford Selck, age 84, of Detroit Lakes, MN, passed away on August 26, 2026 at his home.
Cliff was born on July 16, 1942 to William and Bethel (Sundre) Selck in Detroit Lakes, MN. He attended school in Detroit Lakes and graduated from Detroit Lakes High School. After graduation, he served in the U.S. Navy in active duty from 1960-1963 and...
James Maurer M.D.
Aug 24, 2026
James Warren Maurer M.D., 77, of Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, passed away at home on August 24, 2026, following a long battle with cancer, surrounded by his family.
James was born on August 26, 1948, in Jamestown, North Dakota, to Charles Dwight Maurer and Florence Catherine Plinski Maurer. He grew up with his siblings, Charles D. Maurer Jr., Jackie (Maurer) Wanzer,...
Mark "Joe" James DeGroat
Aug 23, 2026
Mark "Joe" James DeGroat, born on July 26, 1963, in Cheverly, Maryland, passed away peacefully on August 23, 2026, in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. He was the beloved son of Clarence and Helen (Taylor) DeGroat and shared a nurturing upbringing with his seven siblings.
Mark had a deep appreciation for the outdoors and especially enjoyed fishing and motorcycles. Above all, he was...
Betty E. Fischer
Aug 22, 2026
Betty Fischer, nee Gullander, 95, of Detroit Lakes, MN passed away on August 22, 2026. Betty was born October 21, 1930, in Hallock, MN to Alvina and Oscar Gullander. She graduated from Hallock High School in 1948, then attended Gustavus Adolfus College for two years, and graduated from the University of MN.
Betty met her future husband Henry (Hank) Fischer in...
Virginia McCoy
Aug 22, 2026
Virginia McCoy, 97, of Detroit Lakes, MN, passed away peacefully on August 22, 2026, at Sunnyside Care Center, Lake Park, MN. She will be lovingly remembered by her daughters, Linda and Carol; her four grandchildren, James, Aaron, Carrie, and Laurie; and their families. A private prayer/burial service will be held in Crosby, MN.
Virginia was a devoted mother, grandma, and great...
Eva Kessler
Aug 19, 2026
Eva Kessler age 102, passed away Wednesday, August 19, 2026, at the Hawley Senior Living Center. She was born on May 27th, 1924, in Funston, ND to David and Karolina (Dockter) Gienger. She went to school in Funston through 8th grade and received her GED 47 years later which made her children proud. She married Paul J. Kessler Sr on...
Mary Jane McDougall
Aug 18, 2026
Mary Jane McDougall, age 74, of Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, passed away peacefully at home on August 18, 2026. She was born on August 20, 1951, in Breckenridge, Minnesota, to the late John and Delores Krump.
Mary graduated from Wahpeton High School with the Class of 1969 and later earned an LPN license as well as a certification in welding. Throughout her...
James Fredrick Dorff
Aug 16, 2026
James (Jim) Fredrick Dorff passed away unexpectedly at his home in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, on Sunday, August 16, 2026, at the age of 71.
Jim was born on February 2, 1955, in Moorhead, Minnesota to Fred and Dolores Dorff. He moved with his family as a young boy to the Twin Cities area where they lived for several years before relocating...
Warren Russell Stoll
Aug 12, 2026
Warren Russell Stoll, age 90, passed away on August 12, 2026, surrounded by his family.
Warren was born on September 19, 1935, in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, to Joseph and Annie Stoll. He was number 11 in line of 18 children. He enlisted in the United States Air Force, where he proudly served his country.
Warren was united in marriage to Darlene Manning...
