After going nearly nine months without recording any deaths, Dodge County experienced two COVID-related deaths within the past week.
Public Health Director Amy Caron reported the first death on Dec. 2. She said a person in their 90s had died from the virus. A second death involving a woman in her 80s was reported over the weekend, according to Caron, who said the woman was not living in a long-term care facility.

Fred Asche grew up on a farm in the Clara City area in a family of three boys and four girls. Joan lived in rural Montevideo with three siblings. Fred and Joan grew up living 17 miles apart and they met while roller skating in Montevideo.   

A fire in southern Dodge County has destroyed a hog barn and 2,000 smaller pigs, Blooming Prairie Fire Chief Dean Naatz said.
The blaze broke out around 8 a.m. Thursday at the Garness Farm located along Hwy. 30 between Hayfield and Blooming Prairie. It took firefighters from three area departments, including BP, Hayfield and Claremont, to bring the fire under control.

Nearly nine months after the pandemic began, Dodge County has recorded its first COVID-19 death.
Public Health Director Amy Caron reported late Wednesday that a person in their 90s has died from the COVID-19 virus. 
“Our sincere condolences go out to the family during this difficult time,” Caron said. “We hope that in the near future vaccine distribution will occur to help combat this virus so others do not have to suffer.”

Joan Betty Naylor, 87, of Kasson, formerly of Claremont, passed away surrounded by her family on Thursday, Nov. 26, 2020 in Farmington from oral cancer.
Joan was born on April 13, 1933 in Elysian, to Joseph and Laura (Worrel) Warner. She grew up in Claremont.   

Constance “Connie” Yvonne Svenby, 85, of Fergus Falls, passed away peacefully Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2020, at LB Broen Home in Fergus Falls.
Connie was born on May 20, 1935, in Rochester to Vernon and Lorna (Osborn) Fuchs. She grew up in Kasson where she was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church.  She graduated from Kasson High School in 1953.

Avonelle “Avvy” Mathias, 83, of Minnetonka, passed away peacefully with her daughters by her side, on Nov.28, 2020. 
She was born on July 8, 1937, in Kenyon, the daughter of Gustav and Thelma (Jacobson) Hilling.