By GRETTA BECAY
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
 
Ron Durst, the 2018
Caregiver of the Year for the
Dodge County Relay for Life,
has fought cancer for many
years, both as a survivor and
as a caregiver.
He has survived cancer in
two separate organs. First he
had renal cancer and then
that metastasized into his
lungs.
And, his beloved wife,
Marsha, succumbed to

This year, the Dodge County Relay
for Life has a team of honorary chairs. 
These four women have had 
cancer and know that enemy
first hand. They all survived.
They all wanted to give
back because they consider
themselves the lucky ones.
And now they all spend
countless hours working on
the Relay.
The women are Lisa
Rollins, Pat Shaffer-
Gottschalk, Annette

David E. Splittstoesser, 77, of Kasson passed into the arms of God on July 20,2018.
He was born Jan. 7, 1941 in Claremont to Waldamore and Opal Splittstoesser. He married Betty Weber and they later divorced.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Walter and sisters Irene and Ruth.

Cindy Lou Hovland, 61, of Owatonna, died Thursday, July 12, 2018 at her home. 
She was born Jan. 9, 1957 in Owatonna, the daughter of George and Eunice (Johnson) Colmer. She attended school in West Concord.
She married Charles Smith and had their daughter, Ellie, and later divorced. She married Troy Hovland on Feb. 24, 1989 in Owatonna. The couple made their home in Owatonna and had two sons, Dylan and Dalton.

Arvid Robert Johnson, 86, of Rochester, and formerly of Hayfield, passed away peacefully on Monday, July 16, 2018. He was surrounded by his loving wife and family.

The Remembering Our Fallen memorial at the Dodge County Fair stirred up some deep emotions for VaLane Tyler of Dodge Center as she walked through the towers with her husband Ray and their great-grandson on Saturday.
“It’s sad,” VaLane said. “It brings a person to tears. I don’t know how you can explain your
feelings about it. It’s so moving.” Added Ray, “I hate war. They had their

For 4-H animal exhibitors, the Dodge County Fair brings an opportunity to show their animals and make some big bucks at the same time. And this year this did it in record-setting fashion.

A surviving family member of a fallen soldier from the Iraqi war urges people to remember soldiers who have been killed in the War on Terror and their stories. Nancy Tobiason-Kramer of Mantorville shared her special request at the opening ceremony of the Remembering Our Fallen display at the Dodge County Fair July 18.

A Dodge Center man was killed Wednesday morning in a one vehicle rollover in Dodge County.
The crash happened around 5:30 a.m. on Highway 56 near U.S. Highway 14 in Wasioja Township. 
The State Patrol has identified the victim as Michael Joe Anderst, 64. He was driving a 1990 Mazda Miata.
Anderst was wearing his seat belt and no alcohol was involved, according to the patrol.