Irene Ella Thompson, age 105,
 
Irene Thompson
of St. Ansgar, Iowa passed away peacefully Friday afternoon, Jan.
24, 2020, at Good Samaritan Society in St. Ansgar, Iowa surrounded by her loving family.
Irene was born Aug. 18, 1914,

Bonita Frances (Bonnie) Butler, 84, of Dodge Center, passed away on Jan. 26,
2020, at Mayo Clinic Hos- pital St. Mary’s Campus in Rochester.
Bonita Frances Knud- son was born on Feb. 26,
1935, the daughter of Har- vey John and Genevieve Murn Howe Knudson in rural Wasioja. The day of her birth her father went to get the doctor with a team of horses and sleigh, because the snow was so deep.

The epic snowstorm of
the 2020 Triton Wolf Ridge trip conveniently held off until we had safely ar- rived on the Ridge on dry roads. A beautiful 15 inch- es of snow fell from Friday night through Saturday, adding to the adventure.

The Kasson School
Board honored its stu- dents of the month, heard from student school board representatives, and discussed the World’s Best Workforce Report during its monthly meeting on Monday, Jan. 27.
Teaching and Learn- ing Director Kelly Braun presented on how Kas- son-Mantorville school district stacks up to the
2018-2019 World’s Best
Workforce Report.
She reported that nearly

The Dodge County Independent is undergoing major changes in the leadership of the newspaper.
Owner Rick Bussler has re- linquished his publisher duties to Keith Hansen,
who joined the DCI in December as associate publish- er. In his expanded role as publisher, Hansen will be responsible for the entire day-to-day operations of the newspaper. He will have oversight

Todd Eliot Selstad, 57, of Overland Park, Kan., passed away on Jan. 2, 2020, surrounded by his loving family. He left us much too early and our gentle giant will be sorely missed by family, friends and coworkers.

Jo Anna Olson, age 84 of Ellendale, passed away Friday, Jan. 17, 2020 at MercyOne North Iowa Hospice, Mason City, Iowa.
Jo Anna Simmons was born on Nov. 22, 1935 in Lucerne, Mo. Joanna graduated from Mason City High School in 1954, and then met Jimmie Olson in Hollandale, at the Jones Factory Potato Plant. The two later married on Oct. 15, 1955, at the Danish Lutheran Church in rural Ellendale.

Our little sleeping beauties have earned the Steele County Free Fair a top prize in the annual convention of the Minnesota Federation of County Fairs this past weekend in the Twin Cities.

Donald (Donnie) Alfred Thoe, 87, passed away on Jan. 16, 2020, at his home in rural Sargeant.
Donald was born on April 26, 1932, the son of Alfred and Emma (Gulbransen) Thoe in Hayfield.
Donald was united in marriage to JoAnn Peck on Dec. 9, 1960.
He served in the US Army from 1952-1954 and was stationed in Fort Hancock, N.J.