As the Mayor of the City of New Prague, Duane J. "Dewey" Jirik received a copy of “Minnesota’s ‘Big Woods’ Musicians” authored by Sr. Anita Smisek, OP, with narrative assistance from John Chromy.
That’s when he saw his family on the pages and wanted his sons to have their copies.

Joseph “Joe” William Kriha, 86, husband, father, grandfather, brother, patriot and outdoorsman, passed away on Wednesday, January 5 after living with Alzheimers and heart disease. COVID-19 was the final challenge in his last days.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 18 at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Hastings. Visitation will be held prior to Mass starting at 9:30 a.m. A private interment will be held at Fort Snelling.

Betty Jane Rogers, age 72, of New Prague, passed away suddenly, surrounded by her family, on January 18, 2022.    Betty was born on January 24, 1949 in Redwood Falls to Benjamin & Beatrice (Stoll) Steinhouse.  She grew up in Redwood Falls and attended Redwood Falls Public Schools.  She married Richard “Rick” Rogers on December 12, 1970 in Bloomington.  She helped in the family business, United Steel Products, for a few years before becoming her best self as a wonderful homemaker and mother.  Betty enjoyed hosting parties and being on the lake.  Numerous camping trips added to her love o

Patrick R. Cemensky, 77, of Grand Rapids, MN passed away Tuesday, January 18, 2022, at Grand Village.
Patrick was born in 1944 to Anthony and Emily Cemensky in Lexington Township where he grew up and attended school.
Pat and Sharon Kaderlik were united in marriage on May 13, 1967, at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Montgomery. They moved to Grand Rapids in 1978, and Pat worked in road construction and trucking until his retirement.
Pat enjoyed hunting, fishing, and woodworking. He often joked that he never met a pine board he didn’t like.

Richard A. Miller (Dick), 85.
Dick Miller, beloved husband, father, grandpa, and brother passed away on Friday, January 14, 2022, at the age of 85.
He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Sue; his daughters, Molly and Sally (Dan); his sons Tom (Tricia) and Doug (Dawn); his five grandchildren, Brent and Emmalee, Reese and Harper, and Zack; his brothers and sisters-in-law Gordon Balfe, Nan and Wayne Dvorak, and Jim and Diane Pexa; and his many nieces and nephews. 
He is preceded in death by his mother and father, LaVonne and Earl Miller; and his sister Jacquie Balfe. 

Gladys Mae Zahratka, 89, of Montgomery passed away on Thursday, January 6, 2022, at Traditions of Montgomery. Visitation will be held on Friday, January 21 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. with Memorial Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 12 p.m. all held at Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Montgomery with Father Tom Niehaus officiating.
Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery at a later date.
In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred and the family will send them to the Parkinson’s Foundation.

Robert W. Johnson, age 78, of Lonsdale, died unexpectedly at his home on Friday, January 7, 2022.  Bob was born on September 22, 1943 in Litchfield, MN to Algot W. and Olga A. (Strom) Johnson.  He grew up in Dassel, graduating from Dassel High School and went on to attend the University of Minnesota St.

Germaine Marie Perry was a caring wife, mother, grandmother, friend, and card player. She left this world on January 2, 2022, at the age of 94.

Margie Jindra, 97, of Montgomery passed away on Wednesday, January 5, 2022 at Central Health Care in Le Center. Visitation will be held on Sunday, January 9 from noon until 2 p.m. with Funeral Service following at 2 p.m. with Pastor Jason Pollington, officiating, all at Schoenbauer Funeral Home in Montgomery.
Interment will be at a later date in Bohemian National Cemetery in Montgomery.

Margie Jindra, 97, of Montgomery passed away on Wednesday, January 5, 2022 at Central Health Care in Le Center. Visitation will be held on Sunday, January 9 from noon until 2 p.m. with Funeral Service following at 2 p.m. with Pastor Jason Pollington, officiating, all at Schoenbauer Funeral Home in Montgomery.
Interment will be at a later date in Bohemian National Cemetery in Montgomery.

WIND CHILL ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM, Friday, January 7, 2022.
The dangerously cold wind chills could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes.Counties involved are Anoka, Blue Earth, Brown, Carver, Dakota, Faribault, Freeborn, Goodhue, Hennepin, Isanti, Le Sueur, Martin, McLeod, Nicollet, Ramsey, Redwood, Rice, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, Steele, Waseca, Watonwan and Wright.

Roger W. Simon, age 74, died peacefully, surrounded by his family on Saturday, January 1, 2022 at St. Mary’s Hospital, Rochester, MN.  Roger was born on January 11, 1947, in New Prague to Walter R. and Julia (Svoboda) Simon. He was raised in the Veseli area and attended Most Holy Trinity Catholic School, graduated from New Prague High School, enlisted in the National Guard and later graduated from Mankato State College. He married Carol J. Trnka on July 26, 1969, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Lonsdale, MN.  They were happily married for over 52 years.

Mary Ann Ruehling, age 62, of New Prague, died peacefully with her husband at her side, on Christmas Day 2021 at Mayo Clinic Health System Hospital in Rochester.  Mary Ann was born on July 20, 1959 in Detroit Lakes to Arthur and Mary Jane (Lundeen) Kiehl.  Born and raised in Detroit Lakes, she graduated from Detroit Lakes High School.  She met the man who would become her soul mate and life partner, John B. Ruehling, three years before they married on August 13, 1988 at Friedens Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lanesburgh.

An intimate, outdoor ceremony at Tri-City United High School marked the dedication of two memorial benches, Wednesday afternoon, Dec. 22.
The benches, which are gifts from the Class of 2021, commemorate the lives of two Titans who passed aways in recent years.
One bench is dedicated to Blake Asher, a member of the TCU Class of 2021 who passed away at the age of 17, just a few months shy of graduation in a one-vehicle car accident on February 18, 2020. The words “In memory of Blake Asher, Class of 2021” appear on the front of the bench.

The Le Sueur County Board of Commissioners approved the final 2022 levy in the amount of $24,611,528, which is an increase of $1.1 million or 4.8 percent from 2021.
This action was taken during the December 21 meeting.
County departments developed their proposed budgets during the months of April and May. Work sessions are held between the department heads and the county commissioners during June through August. In September the board sets the preliminary levy.

The tradition where residents make Christmas special for the needy was again a success in 2021.
According to Eileen Segna, the coordinator for the Sharing Tree program, all of the recipients who had tags on the tree, received gifts. She said people were generous with their gifts to the people who are mostly local senior citizens.
“I’m so happy. There’s a lot of people who buy over (the suggested amount) what’s on the tag,” she said.