Any time you get a
large group of people to- gether there are bound to be a few security issues. The Steele County Free Fair is no exception.
But what impresses me most about the fair is how there are really never any big issues.
That’s no small feat for a celebration that reported- ly attracts nearly 330,000 people in just six days.
Sheriff Lon Thiele

Orline Martha Magdalena
Peterson, age 95 of Blooming Prairie, passed away Monday, Sept. 2, 2019 at Field Crest Care Center in Hayfield.
She was born Aug. 9, 1924 in Waltham Township, Mower County, to Henry and Magdalena (Prochnow) Ruhter. Orline attended country school. On Oct. 29, 1950, Orline was united in marriage to Eldred Peter- son at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church Orline Peterson

Patrick C. Gorman, 65, of Ard-
more, Okla. and formerly of Tempe, Ariz. and Owatonna, passed away on July 24, 2019 after experiencing
a major stroke on July 16.
Friends may greet the family from 3–4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 15 at the Brick Meger Funeral Home in Owatonna with a memorial service to follow at 4 p.m., officiated by James Cooper, a family member.
Patrick’s wish was to donate Patrick C. Gorman

Norma J. Long, age 85, of Bloom-
ing Prairie, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019 at Mayo Clinic Hospital Rochester, St. Mary’s Campus.
Norma Jean Vrieze was born May

Ever since I announced that I would be leaving the paper to move back east, I have reflected on my time in Minnesota. 
For about a month I thought about this and then I heard someone explain it perfectly.
I was talking to the assistant Dodge County attorney about Rhode Island and how we have both been to different parts of the country for work and our education.

Last week was a big week. I took over at the Dodge County Independent as News Editor and I celebrated my 46th birthday.
In coming on as the News Editor, I toured Kasson and surrounding towns to get a lay of the land and meet the people who I’ll be working with to get important news out to our readers. Interviewing and meeting people is one of the best parts of my job.

The funeral service for Sharon M. Schneckloth, 75, of High Forest, Minn.,  was held on Monday, Sept. 9, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Pleasant Valley,  with Rev. Mark Friedberg officiating.  

Dorothy Elaine Fjerstad was born at her parents’ home at 201 NW 5th Street, Kasson, the second of two children of Olai B. and Ida C. (Sanvik) Fjerstad. She was baptized at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Kasson. Her parents, the first generation born in America, spoke only Norwegian at home.

Lorie Lynn Alwes (Jensen), 59, of Kasson died in a motor vehicle accident Monday, Sept. 2, on her way to work in Mantorville.