Memorial services for Elizabeth “Betty” (Gabriel) Cashin, of Albert Lea will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Saturday, January 4, at St. Theodore Catholic Church, Albert Lea.  The Reverend Timothy Reker will officiate. Interment will be in St. Theodore’s Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 4-7 on Friday at Bonnerup Funeral Service, Albert Lea, and one hour before the service at the church.
Betty died on Tuesday, December 31, 2019 at St. John’s Lutheran Home in Albert Lea. She was born November 10, 1929, in St. Paul, MN, to Edward and Madeline (Gerke) Gabriel.

High winds and icy conditions may continue into the morning
MANKATO, Minn. –  (3:30 p.m.) Motorists in south central Minnesota are advised to expect difficult driving conditions to remain into Tuesday (December 31) with forecasted additional snowfall, dropping temps and even higher wind gusts.

Albert “Jack” Janda, 83, of Montgomery, died on December 27, 2019, at Mayo Clinic Health System Hospital, New Prague.
A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, Jan. 3, 2020, at 10:30 a.m. at the Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, Montgomery. Interment and military rites will be at Calvary Cemetery, Montgomery.
A memorial visitation will be held at the church for two hours prior to the services on Friday.
Arrangements are being completed by the Boldt Funeral Home, Faribault.

Glenn Louis Kerkow, 86, of Montgomery, formerly of Jordan, passed away on Christmas morning 2019 at the age of 86. A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, January 4, 2019 at 11 a.m. with visitation beginning at 9:30 a.m. at St John Lutheran Church, 105 Spruce Avenue NW, Montgomery. Pastor Jason Pollington will preside. Glenn’s grandchildren will act as pallbearers, and he will be laid to rest at Spirit Hill Cemetery in Jordan.

Jane Nash, beloved wife, mother and grandmother, passed away surrounded by family on December 18th at Our Lady of Peace Hospice in St. Paul, at the age of 75.

Friday the 13th was a lucky day for Mayme Jindra.
She celebrated her 105th birthday.
Montgomery’s oldest resident, whose mind and memory are as sharp as a tack, was born on December 13, 1914 in Montgomery. She was the second of five children to Mary and Ed Dejcmar.
According to her niece Penny Joecks, as a young girl, Jindra’s health was not the best, so she did a lot of reading to pass the time, which she did her entire life until eyesight began to fade.

Emergencies don’t take blizzard breaks.
Fortunately, local first responders are resourceful and have friends with big rigs and snowplows.
As the first big snow of the season fell in the area during the early morning hours of Wednesday, November 27, Montgomery’s ambulance crew received a call for help.
A driver had gotten stuck in the ditch near Kilkenny, climbed out of her vehicle, slipped, hit her head, and needed medical attention.

Forget red and green.
It was all about red and blue police lights--and presents, pizza, and fun--at Le Sueur County’s holiday Shop With a Cop event on Wednesday night, Dec. 11 in New Prague.
Twenty kids participated in the sixth annual event that helps foster positive relationships between youth and officers.
“My cop is so cool,” spouted Collin about his partner for the night, Le Sueur Police Officer Aaron Thieke. “I even got to ride in the police car and run the lights and sirens and stuff. Did you hear me sing Jingle Bells over the radio in the squad car?”

A 55-year-old man has died from injuries from a snowmobile crash Saturday evening.
According to the Le Sueur County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded around 4:40 p.m. to a report of a crash on Lexington Road near 173rd Avenue in Montgomery Township.
Officials say the driver of the snowmobile, Larry Gene Haynes, was traveling northbound on the snowmobile trail at a high rate of speed. Investigators say it appears Haynes was unable to stop before the Lexington Road crossing, ultimately striking the side of a westbound pickup truck.

The Vosejpka family found it!
Joy Vosejpka of Montgomery, and her kids, Ruby, 8, and Jaxson, 9, found the 2019 Christmas Medallion wrapped up in a sock at the pump house in Northside Park. 
It was Clue #2 that led them straight to it. 
"We knew it was in a park because of the first clue. Then, the second clue said it was north, so we knew it was at Northside Park," explained Jaxson. 

I love to read. One of my favorite books is Mitch Albom's “The Five People You Meet in Heaven.” At this time of year, I often reflect on the past 12 months - its ups and downs, joys and sadnesses.
Remembering this book, I thought of the five people I'd like to spend Christmas with again. First and foremost would be my dad. It’s been 22 years ago on September 28 that he unexpectedly passed away.
Even after all of these years, I think about him.
Every. Single. Day.
I talk to him - sometimes out loud (no judging allowed).

Milton F. Holetz, age 89, of Montgomery passed away suddenly but peacefully Monday, December 9, 2019, at his home on the farm where he lived for 53 years.
Milton was born in rural Lexington Township, Le Sueur County, on May 14, 1930 to Frank and Emily (Kalina) Holetz. As a child he attended country school and helped his parents on the farm back when fields were plowed with a team of horses and everyone looked forward to threshing day in the fall. He graduated from Montgomery High School and attended a commercial college in Mankato to be an accountant.

Ardys Leone Peterson, age 101, of Montgomery, formerly of Bloomington, died peacefully, surrounded by her family on Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 2019 at Traditions of Montgomery. 

The Montgomery Torchlight Parade and Fireworks festival signified for the 27th year in a row that the holiday season is well underway.
Bundled for mild, pre-winter temperatures, crowds celebrated the season as they watched close to 50 Christmas-decorated floats roll down First Street.

Staff, visitors and city officials cut the ribbon to the Montgomery Animal Hospital on Thursday, Dec, 5. Pictured are (front, from left) visitors Monty and Nala, (second row) Nikki Kester, Veterinary Technician; Julie Sweers Manager and Technician; (back row) Leah Petricka, City Planner; Brian Heck, City Administrator; Tom Eisert, Mayor; Veterinarian, Benjamin Sweers; Kurt Dvorak, President Montgomery Chamber of Commerce; and Dennis Lambrecht, City Council Member. Read more in the print edition. (Wade Young Photo)

This entry from the New Prague Lions Club was among those in the 24th annual Parade of Lights held on Friday, Dec. 6. Temperatures were around 23 degrees Fahrenheit, but that didn’t stop the large crowds that lined New Prague’s Main Street for the Parade of Lights to see area groups and businesses with their floats decorated for the Holiday Season. The parade ended at Memorial Park for visits with Santa, treats, the lighting of the Community Christmas Tree and fireworks. For more see an upcoming print issue of The New Prague Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)