All Obituaries

Melissa (Mitzi) Ann Bray  Age 56, of Monticello, passed away Friday, March 27th, 2020.  Mitzi was born in Monticello, MN on January 7th, 1964 to Larry and Patricia Rask. She graduated from Pacelli High School in Austin, MN in 1982. She moved back to Monticello, MN after graduation where she met her husband, Bruce Bray, and was married January 29th, 1988. Mitzi worked for AT&T for several years and has been with Xcel Energy for the last five years. Mitzi had a love for hunting,...

Age 97, of Monticello.  Passed away peacefully in her sleep on March 26, 2020.  Preceded in death by her husband, Jared; sons, Larry and Harry; daughter, Connie Goetz (Dwayne); son-in-law, Roger Szarke; granddaughter-in-law, Bonnie Fessenden.  She is survived by her children, Mary Ann Szarke, Carol Klatt (Roger) and Sherie Melchert (Steven Berry); daughter-in-law, Vicki Fessenden; 17 grandchildren; 36 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great-grandchildren.  The family will...

Age 82, of Monticello, Minnesota, died March 25, 2020. He is survived by his wife, Gail, children Greg Sonbuchner (Larisa), Jon Sonbuchner (Susan), Marla Olson (Rodney), Sean Murphy (Roberta), Jason Murphy (Sashaa) and Viktoria Mendez (Fernando), fourteen grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, brother, Paul Sonbuchner, four nieces and four nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Joyce Kramer and Corrine Sheridian, Barb and George Gast.  Hugo was born on June 17,...

Bernice Haare was born on September 21st, 1937 in Menagha and passed away on March 19th, 2020 from a very short battle with cancer at age 82. Bernice grew up in Menagha, it was there she met Eugene Haare, the father of her three daughters, Pam, Kim and Roxanne. Bernice was a homemaker, raising the girls and taking care of her family. Later in life, she moved in with her daughter Roxanne, started working at Byerly’s eventually retiring from there in 2000. Most recently, she was living...

Schleif, Kathleen M. age 69 of Monticello, passed away at her home surrounded by her family on March 18, 2020.  Kathleen was born in Monticello on June 2, 1950 to Leo and Helen (McCarvel) Holker.  On October 2, 1971 she was united in marriage to Larry Schleif and they had three sons.   She is survived by her loving husband; sons Michael (Ruth) Myers-Schleif of Sauk Rapids, Bryan Schleif of Monticello, David (Britney) Schleif of Gilbert, AZ; grandchildren Christopher,...

John Bernard Gossen died March 17 2020 in St Cloud MN from complications after emergency surgery. Born 6/23/1932 to William & Elizabeth (Dirckx) Gossen in Ghent MN. One of the youngest of 15 children, he grew up and worked on the family farm that was built by his namesake Grandfather John, in Minneota MN (farm is still in the family). He joined the Air Force Reserves April 14 1952 and earned his GED in 1953 while in the Air Force Reserves.   He was honorably discharged March...

Heitschmidt, William “Bill” E, 96, passed away on Thursday, March 5, 2020, at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in St. Cloud, Minnesota. Bill was born to William and Mary Etta Heitschmidt June 8, 1923 in Chicago, Illinois. After high school, Bill served in the U.S. Army Air Force as an airplane mechanic in Washington, D.C. Bill married Ruth Ida Naus and were blessed with four children, Carol, Bill, Kevin and Keith. Bill was preceded in death by his first wife, Ruth...

Age 89, of Elk River (formerly of Big Lake).  Passed away on March 13, 2020.  She is preceded in death by her husbands, Donald Moores and Evan Johnson; son, David Moores; grandson, Trevor Moores; son-in-law, Tim Shand.  Marlys is survived by her children, Teresa Shand, Tom (Karen) Moores and Shelley (Roger) Onsrud; stepdaughter, Shirley (Cliff) Foote; grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  Private family interment at Big Lake Cemetery. 

Bruce Bates (77) passed away in his home on February 21st, 2020. Bruce was born in Syracuse, NY to Congdon Scott and Esther Helen Bates.  He graduated from Clarkson College of Technology, Potsdam, NY with a BS degree in 1964.  He worked as a sales manager for several industrial manufacturers until 1990.  In 1990 he became a financial advisor for American Express Financial Advisors and served many clients in the Monticello/Big Lake area. Bruce was active in the community,...

Wendt, James Richard 81, of Big Lake, passed away on Tuesday, February 11, 2020. Jim was born January 17, 1939 in Sanborn, MN to Wilbert & Opal Wendt and a 1956 graduate of Westbrook High School.  He served in the US Army, retired from Xcel Energy (NSP) in 1996, active in the Elk River Lions (Lion of the Year 1997 and 2001), and enjoyed many diverse MN lifestyles (farm living. lake home, outdoor adventures, and suburban life).  He is survived by his children Jon Wendt and Kim...