Each Sunday, laughter can be heard flooding out of the kitchen at First Presbyterian Church in Claremont. This is where Kay Fate, Penny McMartin O’Brien and Allison Ross happily package Sunday lunches for area families and senior citizens.

A Kasson-Mantorville Elementary School teacher has nabbed a significant award called the STEM Forward Outstanding Educator Award.
Jessica Marquardt secured the award during a year when “area educators are wondering if they are doing enough or are good enough at supporting our youth to receive the education they deserve,” according to a press release about the Outstanding Educator Award winner.

Governor’s orders do not permit weddings, funerals and similar events to take place between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m.
So, if anyone was thinking of having a wedding around 10 p.m. or before 4 a.m., better rethink the plans.
And, if Dear-Old-Dad kicks the bucket, and my family is thinking of conducting my funeral after 10 p.m. or before 4 a.m., they’ll have to wait ‘til 4:01 a.m., or with planning, schedule it before 9:59 p.m.

Robert Duane Nelson, 72, Kasson, passed away on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2020, at Mayo Clinic St. Marys campus.
Bob was born Sept. 13, 1948 in Rochester to Howard and Fern (Frost) Nelson. He was a graduate of Kasson-Mantorville High School and went on to become a certified painter. On April 22, 1967, at Byron Methodist Church, Bob Married Loah King.

Richard Eugene Dessner, 87, of West Concord, died Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020 at St. Mary's Hospital.
He was born Nov. 30, 1933 in Strool, S. D., the son of Frederick and Dorothy (Sanford) Dessner. Richard grew up near Elgin. 

Merece K.E. Langworthy, 91, of Rochester, passed away on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020, at Samaritan Bethany in Rochester. 
Merece was born on Oct. 20, 1929 in Kasson to Joel and Grace (Lane) Engelstad. 
After graduation from St. Olaf College, she married Erwin L. Langworthy; she and Erwin raised their family in Dodge Center.

James “Jim” Alfred Hildebrandt, 74, of Mantorville, died Wednesday, Dec. 9, at Cottagewood Senior Communities in Rochester of complications with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP).
Jim was born June 4, 1946, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Faribault, to Alfred and Mabel (Skolness) Hildebrandt of rural Kenyon. Like most farm boys, he helped with chores in the barn and the fields.