John Francis Smith, 70, of Balsam Lake, Wisconsin, died Aug. 19, 2025, after an ATV accident. He was born on July 15, 1955, to Raymond Smith and Alice (Gay) Mesecher in Wichita, Kansas. As a child, John attended Osceola Elementary School and then graduated from Taylors Falls High School in 1974. John worked a variety of jobs throughout his life, including working for the City of Taylors Falls, coaching Taylors Falls Little League, and working at Doboy Feed Mill, Jerome’s Foods, Peterson Construction, and lastly SMC where he retired on Dec. 31, 2024. Most important to John, he was a [...]

Leona Jane Sampe, 87, passed away at Amery Willow Ridge Healthcare on July 26, 2025. She was born to David and Grace (Reeves) McKinley in 1937, near Traer, Iowa. Surrounded by Irish family, Jane’s early years were spent helping siblings and her many cousins to read and write. She was THE born teacher as soon as she mastered kindergarten. Due to David’s asthma, he moved the family to Siren, Wisconsin, where they farmed many more years. Jane attended Siren High School before studying elementary education at UW – River Falls. Her Siren principal asked her to start the first kindergarten [...]

Doris A. Jones, 81, of St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin, passed away at her home on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025, with her loving family at her side. Doris was brought into this world by her biological mother, Louise Edquist. Louise named her “Mary Eileen.” Louise needed to put this beautiful baby up for adoption. That is when Helge and Mildred Lindberg became her parents. They named her Doris Ann Lindberg. When Doris turned 40, she decided to find her birth mom, and she succeeded. Soon, we all learned about the wonderful family in the North. Seven sisters and one brother were [...]

  Myrna Louise Beckman, 90, of Frederic, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully on Aug. 12, 2025, due to complications from an aortic dissection at St. Croix Health in St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin. Born on July 9, 1935, in Grantsburg, Wisconsin, to Birger and Edna Beckman, Myrna was a devoted daughter and cherished sister to Marvel Beckman. A life-long member of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, Myrna was baptized, confirmed and celebrated ten years of perfect attendance in Sunday School there.  Myrna’s faith grounded her throughout her life. She attended school in Frederic and graduated with her high school class in 1953. [...]

LaVern Alvin Dahlberg, 93, of Frederic, Wisconsin, passed peacefully on to his eternal home in Heaven on July 20, 2025, at his home after a short time on hospice. Born March 12, 1932, the youngest of four children, LaVern was preceded in death by his parents, Gothfred and Flora Dahlberg; his sisters, Violet Dahlberg and Frances Dahlberg; and his brother and sister-in-law, Donald and Beverly Dahlberg. A beloved uncle, LaVern is survived by his nieces, Shelley (Tom) Monteleone, Kimberly Gray and Dawn Dahlberg; nephew, William Dahlberg (Lori); and many grand and great nieces and nephews. To celebrate LaVern's life, we [...]

Mark Steven Palmberg was born May 25, 1950, in Amery, Wisconsin, to Robert and Helen (Lundmark) Palmberg. Mark passed away peacefully with his sister Terri by his side on Aug. 8, 2025, in Lino Lakes Assisted Living Facility, having lived with cerebral palsy for 75 years. He attended Milltown Elementary School through first grade, when he transferred to Eau Claire, Wisconsin, to complete high school. During this time, he returned to Milltown every weekend and was an avid attender of Unity sporting events and Tri~Town Badgers baseball. Mark met his life partner, Carol Cohrs, and together they attended the Courage [...]

  Michael Jerome Costello, of Milltown, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully on the morning of Aug. 13, 2025. We were blessed with 64 years of his loving and caring presence. Michael was born in Frederic, Wisconsin, and grew up in Milltown. He attended Unity School, where so many of his friendships started. His passion for animals and farm life ran deep. You would have seen him driving his draft horses, joyriding on a tractor, and tending to his many animals on any given day (with classic rock in the background). Those closer to him enjoyed some of his favorite pastimes with [...]

  Kathleen Kothlow, 71, of Balsam Lake, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully at home on Aug. 5, 2025, surrounded by her family. Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, on March 26, 1954, to John and Geraldine McQuillan. Kathy is survived by her husband, Brad Kothlow; daughters, Carrie Steiger (Matt), Stephanie Ahmedić (Igor) and Lexie Kothlow; and five grandchildren who brought her endless joy. She is also survived by her siblings, Jeannie McQuillan, Micki McQuillan (Tom), John McQuillan (Jane), Mary McQuillan (Joe), Peggy Gibbs (Mike), Angie Schaefer (Dan) and Timothy McQuillan (Renae). Kathy’s creativity and passion for food came together throughout her life. [...]

Kirsten Jane (Flagstad) Werdier was born on June 11, 1940, and passed away on Aug. 6, 2025. She was the oldest child born in Madison, Wisconsin, to Wollert “Red” Flagstad and Eleanore (Spencer) Flagstad. Arriving a couple years later was her only sibling, her brother Karsten “Bud” Flagstad, who she loved liked he was a gift for her alone. Both Kirsten and Karsten were named in honor of the Norwegian Opera singer Kirsten Flagstad (a distant cousin). The Flagstad family had a home and owned and operated a flower shop on Winnebago Street in Madison, where the love of working [...]

  Gary Dean Dueholm, 72, of Turtle Lake, Wisconsin, died on Aug. 5, 2025, at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. He was born Oct. 11,1952, in Amery, Wisconsin, to Raymond Cecil and Erlice Alma (Nelson) Dueholm. Gary grew up on the family farm along with his two brothers and four sisters. He was married at St. Matthew Lutheran Church on Aug. 27, 1977, to Betty Koenig and they shared almost 48 years together. After graduating in 1971 from Luck High School, Gary began working at Erickson’s Holiday as an assistant meat cutter. He heard that Hartzell Manufacturing [...]