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Karen Thorstad of Sacred Heart passed away Saturday, February 4, 2023, at Avera Granite Falls Hospital at the age of 76. Visitation was held Wednesday, February 8, 2023, from 5 - 7 p.m. at Anderson - TeBeest Funeral Home in Granite Falls with a prayer service at 7 p.m.

Dale Oakland of Granite Falls died Saturday, February 4, 2023, at United Hospital in St. Paul at the age of 68.

Curtis O’Niel Sannerud, affectionately known as “Sunshine”, was born on May 16, 1930, at home on the farm (which he still owns to this day) in Normania Township t o Christian and Margaret (Adrian) Sannerud. He was baptized at home and confirmed at Spring Creek Norwegian Lutheran Church. Throwing only a blanket over the back of a horse, Sunshine made his way to and from country school through the 8th grade before later transferring to Clarkfield High School, where he excelled as a football running back and math, but don’t ask him to spell anything. After graduation, he started building grain elevators before enlisting in the U.S. Army to serve in the Korean War. Stationed in Trieste, Italy, Curtis was able to travel and see parts of Greece and Norway during his active duty. Following his honorable discharge from the service in 1954, Sunshine resumed building elevators and farming near his home farm. Throughout his lifetime, Curt also sold seed corn - first for Trojan, then Pfizer, and finally DeKalb. This job was really his excuse to get out and meet people - Sunshine loved talking and hearing others’ life stories. He also socialized by way of serving on the AMPI Board of Directors, being an active member of the Hazel Run Legion, and participating in card parties. In the 1950s, Curt would meet the love of his life, Jeannine Weidauer, while at a roller-skating rink in Marshall. Smitten from the minute he saw her, he put his arm around her, and she immediately snuggled in closer - the two were inseparable thereafter. On May 21, 1955, the couple were married in Marshall and eventually had three children: Sherrie, Terry, and Shelley. Curt loved to golf, deer hunt with his son, Terry, brother-in-law, Ted, and grandsons, take fishing trips to Canada, and after retiring, could spend more time birdwatching and honing his painting and woodworking skills. True to his Scandinavian heritage, Sunshine indulged in lefse, kringla, and lutefisk (made by Jeannine in its own

Darius “Beaner” Zieske of Granite Falls passed away Monday, January 23, 2023, at St. Cloud Hospital at the age of 79. Visitation will be held Friday, February 3, 2023, from 2 - 5 p.m. at Anderson - TeBeest Funeral Home in Granite Falls. Darius “Beaner” Gene Zieske was born on June 24, 1943, in Redwood Falls to Calvin and Rose (Bernardy) Zieske. He grew up on a farm near Seaforth and his family moved to rural Granite Falls later in his childhood. Beaner was united in marriage to Ellen Hagen on April 4, 1964, at St. Andrew Catholic Church in Granite Falls. They made their home in Granite Falls where Beaner worked for Martin Marietta for over 40 years. Beaner had a great love for the outdoors with hunting and fishing and took pride in teaching his grandchildren his secrets. Over the years Beaner taught snowmobile lessons and even coached summer league softball. He enjoyed going to races at local dirt tracks, going to the casino, playing bingo and going to his campsite in Villard. One special person that has taken care of Beaner is Teri Schlemmer who always made Beaner laugh and smile, especially when she would pick him up for Thursday Night Bingo. Beaner had a great love for his prized 1972 orange Chevy truck, which he took to many car shows and won many awards. What Darius loved the most was spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren, and sharing his passions with them. Beaner was so proud of being able to meet his first great-grandchild and cherished every moment with Bryson. He is survived by his wife, Ellen; daughters, Lisa (Scott) Zweibohmer of Dassel and Marcy Anderson of Rogers; and grandchildren: Tyler (significant other, Stef) and her daughter, Taylor, Austin (significant other, Kelsey) and their son, Bryson, Nicole, and Peyton; brothers: Darrell (Lynnae) Zieske, Perry (Joan) Zieske, and Kevin (Laurie) Zieske; sisters, LeNae

Sherry Jakel, 77, of New Prague, formerly Buffalo and Granite Falls, passed away on January 21, 2023, at Mala Strana Assisted Living in New Prague. Sherry Lee Jakel was born in Crookston on December 3, 1945, to Jackson and Shirley (Anderson) Granger.

Ellen Marie (Finnes) Anderson, 91, of Cambridge peacefully passed away on Monday, January 23, 2023, following a brief illness, at Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids. Ellen was born on July 27, 1931, in Granite Falls to Obert and Ella (Seim) Finnes.

Our beloved mother and grandmother passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 15, 2023, at age 94 at Chapel View Health Care Center of Hopkins due to complications of COVID and dementia. A funeral service will be held on Friday, January 27, 2023, at 11 a.m. at J.H. Lynner Funeral Home in Clarkfield with visitation one hour prior to the service. Interment will be next to husband, Elden, in Israel Lutheran Cemetery. The oldest of five daughters, Ellie was born to T. Peter and Bernice (Buethe) Stone on February 24, 1928, in Swede Prairie Township, Yellow Medicine County. She attended country school until the eighth grade, then transferred to Clarkfield Public School to complete high school. After completing her certification in general office management at the Minnesota School of Business in Minneapolis, she worked at the Clarkfield Bank until her marriage. She was united in marriage to Elden Appelwick on March 24, 1951, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Minneota. Their marriage lasted nearly 65 years until Elden’s death in 2016. They had three children. Ellie was active in the community and at Israel Lutheran Church until its closing. She took to homemaking with gusto and always had bars, cookies, and coffee ready for those who stopped by. There was nothing better than her homemade bread. In 2012, Ellie fell and broke her hip. She recovered from that but then had a stroke a few years later that left her in a wheelchair, but her spirit was still strong. She moved to Augustana Chapel View in 2017 to be closer to “the girls.” Ellie was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Elden; sisters, (Gladys) Maxine Korman, Mary Gorski, and Patricia Kane; nephews, Robert Korman and Glenn Korman, and son-in-law Gregory O’Konski. She is survived by sister, Joan Konigson; daughters, Dianne O’Konski, Sharon Sauer, and Shirley Appelwick; grandchildren, Georgia, Josephine, and Henry Brott, and many nieces and nephews. The family thanks the staff at the former Minneota Manor

Russell Flaata of Granite Falls unexpectedly passed away Wednesday, January 18, 2023, at Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar at the age of 58. Celebration of life services were held Tuesday, January 24, 2023, at 3 p.m.