James (Jim) Kent Christianson

James (Jim) Kent Christianson, age 72, passed away March 11, 2021, in Buffalo, MN. Jim was born January 18, 1949, in Chicago, IL.

In 1967 Jim married his high school sweetheart, Laura Egan, and went on to serve his country in Vietnam where he was with the 101^st Airborne and was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.

Jim and Laura settled in Mound, MN where they raised their four children.

Jim is preceded in death by his wife, Laura; daughter, Patricia; parents, David Christianson and Linda Christianson Kucera Rodner.

He is survived by his children, Heather (John) Lundebrek, Jim Christianson, Melissa (Shane Cowan) Christianson, Patrick Christianson; grandchildren, Matthew and Madalyn Mallum, Ashton and Olivia Spiering, Ethan and Alex Lundebrek, Brandon Remington, Nevada and Gabriella Christianson.

A private memorial service will be held at Fort Snelling National Cemetery later this spring.

Milton R. Anderson of Buffalo.  Passed away on March 15 at Age 98.  Born August 5, 1922 to William R. and Phoebe (Melin) Anderson.

Preceded in death by his first wife, Joyce (Gronvall); his second wife, Donna (Hoekstra); his daughter in law, Stephanie (Osteen) Anderson; and his stepson, Michael Hoekstra.

Survived by brother, Wesley (Corinne) Golden Valley;  3 sons, Stephen, Eagan MN, Scott (Judy) Lakeville MN, Charles (Holly) Bloomington MN; daughter, Judy (Michael) Thyren, Edina MN. Stepsons Alan (Carol) Hoekstra, Cook MN, and Gary Hoekstra, Riverside, CA.  Many grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

Confirmed in 1936 in the Mission Covenant Church in downtown Buffalo.  His parents died in the 1930’s from tuberculosis.  He and his brother Wes moved to Minneapolis to live with a very caring Aunt and Uncle, Carl, and Ebba (Melin) Anderson.  Milt graduated from Central High School in Minneapolis in 1940.  He was employed by the Minneapolis Star Journal as a district circulation manager before enlisting in the Army Air Corp.  He flew 50 combat missions in the European theater as a P-38 Lightning fighter pilot in WWII.  After returning to civilian life in 1945, he attended the U of M and the Minneapolis Business College. In 1946, he married his beloved Joyce. They were married for 46 years, and they were blessed with 4 children. Milt was employed by Thompson Lumber Company in Minneapolis for 43 years before retiring in 1990 as Vice President, and Director.  In 1995 he married Donna Hoekstra and moved back to his beloved hometown of Buffalo after living in Minnetonka for 48 years.  As a member of Buffalo Covenant Church, he served as an Elder and was also active in the Sanctuary Choir where he was Librarian.   Also, a member and treasurer of the Retired Friends Group,  he worked with Meals on Wheels, and served 5 years on the Board of the Buffalo Food Shelf.

A remembrance ceremony is planned for later in the spring/summer months during the interment services that will be held at Fort Snelling National Cemetery.

The family would also like to extend their sincere thanks to the Park Nicollet Hospice Care Team of Kathy Dery, Peter Lund, Nora Turnbloom, and Erin Byers.

Memorials to Buffalo Covenant Church.

Earl Kenneth Wold, age 95, of St. Michael, MN passed away peacefully March 12, 2021. Earl was born March 7, 1926 on the home farm south of Rushford, MN to Knut and Emelia (Johnson) Wold. He attended rural grade school and graduated from Rushford High School in 1944.

After high school he worked as a farm hand for a neighboring farmer. Elected later to leave farm work and found employment with Montgomery Ward in Winona. First in the stock room followed by being a sales person for tires and batteries & then men’s clothing.

He met his wife to be, Amazette, the first day they attended high school. They were married on June 6, 1948 and were married for 61 years.

When the Korean War started he elected to join the US Air Force. After serving 4 years he decided to seek a college education offered by the GI Bill. He graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1959 with a major in agronomy and a minor in soils.

He joined the Research Service Dept. at Northup King Seed Co. in 1959 doing research on improving seed quality and conducting yield trials in the mid-west on soybeans and oats. He accepted a position being responsible for increasing seeds developed by researchers. These were early generations building up seed quantity prior to major production of seed for sale. He retired in 1988 after 28 years of service.

During his working years he volunteered to serve as advisor to the Junior Achievement program that was supported by Northrup King Seed Co. After retirement he volunteered his help building Houses for Humanity sponsored by his church. He also served as treasurer for the Minnesota Forage and Grassland Council for 8 years.

An annual event for about 20 years was to serve as a judge for crop seed at the State Fair. He, along with others, judged both small and large crop seeds submitted for competition in the Farm Crops Division. Winners were exhibited in the Horticulture Building on the State Fair Grounds.

Genealogy became another interest after retirement.  He and his wife Amazette researched and published two family histories.

In his later years he spent time remembering and writing about many events in his life.

He is survived by his daughter, Kimberly (Robert) Zwart, and granddaughter Anna Grace, one sister, Arlene (Harold) Jensen, along with many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife and his parents.

Funeral services will be held at the Peterson Chapel in St. Michael, MN at 2pm March 27, 2021 with visitation 2 hours prior to services. Interment at Lakewood Cemetery, Minneapolis. Memorials may be given to the American Diabetes Association or donor’s choice.

www.thepetersonchapel.com. 763-497-5362

October 7, 1939 – March 10, 2021

Mary Ann Niesen, age 81, of Buffalo passed away on Wednesday, March 10,2021 at Lake Ridge Care Center.

She was born in Lester Prairie on October 7, 1939 the daughter of Otto and Eleanor (Remer) Birkholtz.

She enjoyed babysitting especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren whom she loved!   She was also fond of praying the Rosary, reading and watching T.V.

Survived by her loving children: Julie (David) Teneyck, Richard Smith, Jane (Severt) Jarvi and Barb Smith all of Buffalo and Angela Smith of Waverly; nine grandchildren, twenty one great grandchildren; siblings: Marlys Sobaski, Sally Weege, Rita Picha, Rosie Jenkins, Patty Bakeberg, Jimmy, Dale, Tommy, Joe, Ralph, Paul and Ervin Birkholtz;  many other relatives and friends.

Preceded in death by her husband’s Richard Earl Smith and Edward Niesen, Smith Angel baby, a great granddaughter Lindsay Marie Klatt, her parents, siblings Bernice Wiegand, Carol Pell, Joanne Krecklau and Cletus Birkholtz.

A Mass of Christian Burial for Mary Ann Niesen will be held on Wednesday, March 17^th at 11:00 A.M. at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Buffalo.   Father Nathaniel Meyers will be the Celebrant.   Interment will follow at St. Francis Cemetery.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, March 17^th at the Peterson Chapel in Buffalo from 9:30-10:30 A.M.

Casket Bearers will be David Teneyck, Severt Jarvi, Justin Ackerman, Andrew, Anthony, Jeremiah Klatt and Shawn Swierczek.

The Peterson Chapel in Buffalo is serving the family.   Online condolences may be made to www.thepetersonchapel.com

Aubryella Espinoza, de 14 meses de edad de Monticello, falleció el lunes 8 de marzo de 2021 en el Hospital de Niños de la Universidad de Minnesota.

Nació el 16 de noviembre de 2019 en Minneapolis, hija de Alberto A. Espinoza Virgen y Mayra C. Ramírez.

Le sobreviven sus padres: Alberto A. Espinoza Virgen y Mayra C. Ramírez Espinoza; hermanos: Alberto Jr., Cecilia, Aaron e Isabella; abuelos maternos: Pedro Ramírez y María Guadalupe Ramírez; abuela paterna: María Medina Virgen .

Se llevará a cabo una visita el sábado 13 de marzo de 2021 una hora antes de los servicios en La Capilla Peterson en Buffalo.

Los servicios funerarios para Aubryella Espinoza se llevarán a cabo el sábado 13 de marzo de 2021 a la 1:00 p.m. en La Capilla Peterson en Buffalo.

Se pueden enviar condolencias en línea a www.thepetersonchapel.com

February 19, 1935 – March 8, 2021

Janice Carol Van Lith Ruhr, age 86, of rural Buffalo passed away on Monday, March 8, 2021 at Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids.

She was born on February 19,1935, the daughter of Charles and Annie (Schultz) Maas.

Janice was employed at Christ the King Retreat Center (King’s House) and for many years in retail sales at Johnson’s Department Store in Buffalo.  Her love of clothing, shoes, and nail polish made this position well-suited for her.  She was pure class, and she enjoyed her co-workers and customers very much.

She enjoyed gardening, traveling, shopping and dancing, but more than anything else she loved spending time with her family. Christmas celebrations were one of her favorites as homemade fruitcake, fudge, popcorn balls, slush and Christmas Eve pajama parties were the highlights of each year.

Janice is survived by her loving children: Cindy (Brian Elliott) Van Lith, Curt (Jill) Van Lith, Scott “Scoot” (Tracey) Van Lith all of Buffalo and Lori (Larry) Thingvold of Delano; her fourteen grandchildren: Launi (Brian) Arndt, Tia (Sam) Skay, Lacey (Otis) Westbrook, Tiffany (Mike) Lund, Tia Elliott, Eric Elliott, Cody (Somer) Van Lith, Tanner Van Lith, Saylor Van Lith, Gunnar Van Lith, Cannon Van Lith, Jenna (Jake) Eickhoff, Bethany Van Lith, Dawson Van Lith, Shelby Thingvold and Andy Thingvold; and twelve great grandchildren: Daric, Toby, Zoey, Avi, Aidan, Levi, Ella, Letti, Carter, Wyatt, Sophie and Mason.

She is also survived by a sister: Donna Leick; sisters-in-law: Mickey and Liz Van Lith; brother-in-law: Harry Poliwoda and many other relatives and friends.

Janice was preceded in death by her parents, seven siblings, husband Frederick (Fritz) Van Lith, a grandson Caleb Van Lith, great granddaughters Abby Van Lith and Lilly Eickhoff, along with many other relatives and friends.

A future Memorial Service for Janice Van Lith Ruhr will be held.  Inurnment will be held at The Calvary Cemetery in Delano.

The Peterson Chapel in Buffalo is serving the family.   Online condolences may be made to www.thepetersonchapel.com