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Benjamin “Benny” Basta
Benjamin “Benny” Basta, 85, Clinton, MN, passed away Saturday, October 3, 2026, at his home in Clinton. Graveside Services will be Saturday, October 24, at 1:00 p.m. at the Clinton City Cemetery. Please join us for dessert at the Clinton Memorial Building following the service. Benny was a man who measured his life not in accomplishments, but in relationships: the nieces and nephews that grew up with and chaperoned Benny and Dianna, the grandchildren who followed him aroun
14 hours ago


Bucs football remain undefeated, 36-12 win over Win-E-Mac
The Border West Buccaneers improved their season record to 6-0 with a 36-12 victory over Win-E-Mac on Friday, Oct. 9, in Erskine. The Buccaneers continued their undefeated season with a strong offensive performance, scoring five touchdowns while holding the Patriots to just two scores. Border West took control early, building a 22-6 halftime lead before adding 14 points in the second half to secure the victory. The Buccaneers opened the scoring with an 8-yard touchdown run
2 days ago


Still Serving
By Jake Lillehaug 10-15-26 There is something special about driving a country road in western Minnesota just after sunset in October. The sky glows with brilliant oranges and reds while the last sunlight catches the changing leaves. Across the countryside, clouds of dust rise from freshly harvested fields, illuminated by the headlights of combines working well into the evening. Grain trucks wait along field approaches. Service trucks travel from farm to farm, keeping equip
2 days ago


Clinton, Ortonville and the County Seat Controversy
It Happened Here, By Judy Beckman This is a series of local stories from the past that come from your questions. The Northern Star gets inquiries from incidents that took place, but without many details, or they know only some of the story. Our part will be to research the newspaper files to get the “rest of the story.” The question posed to us this week was, “What’s the real story about Clinton stealing the courthouse records from Ortonville?” Our immediate response was
2 days ago
Obituaries


Benjamin “Benny” Basta
Benjamin “Benny” Basta, 85, Clinton, MN, passed away Saturday, October 3, 2026, at his home in Clinton. Graveside Services will be Saturday, October 24, at 1:00 p.m. at the Clinton City Cemetery. Please join us for dessert at the Clinton Memorial Building following the service. Benny was a man who measured his life not in accomplishments, but in relationships: the nieces and nephews that grew up with and chaperoned Benny and Dianna, the grandchildren who followed him aroun
The Northern Star
14 hours ago


Liane Rausch
Liane Rausch, age 71, of Big Stone City, SD, passed away on Thursday, August 20, 2026, at her home, surrounded by her loving family. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, August 28, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Charles Catholic Church in Big Stone City, SD. Visitation will be held on Thursday, August 27, 2026, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at St. Charles Catholic Church, with a prayer vigil and Rosary beginning at 9:00 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour prior to
The Ortonville Independent
Aug 26


Kenneth "Kenny" Skoog
Kenneth "Kenny" Skoog, 87, of Graceville, MN, passed away on Monday, August 17, 2026, at Grace Home in Graceville. Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, August 29, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Mundwiler & Larson Funeral Home in Graceville, MN. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service on Saturday. Fr. Shawn Polman will officiate and burial will be at Graceville Consolidated Cemetery near Graceville.
The Ortonville Independent
Aug 26


Arlen “Red” LaCombe
Arlen Edward LaCombe was born on January 24, 1930, at the family farm home near Big Stone City, SD. He was the son of Walter and Olive (Jacobs) LaCombe, and affectionately nicknamed, Red. He attended country school until his family moved to a farm near Ortonville, MN, and then attended Ortonville High School, graduating with the Class of 1948. Red farmed with his father. He was united in marriage with Ardell Bernette Agre on November 8, 1953, in Montevideo, MN. They were bl
The Ortonville Independent
Aug 21


Phyllis Ann (Melland) Seiler
Phyllis Ann (Melland) Seiler was born May 23, 1937, to Russell and Gunvor (Wichman) Melland of Jamestown, North Dakota. Phyllis graduated high school in 1955 and attended Concordia College for a year. On February 1, 1958, she married the love of her life, Raymon Seiler. Together they built a life centered on faith, family, hard work and fun. Prior to marriage, Phyllis worked as a dental assistant and as an aide on the maternity ward in Jamestown. Once married, she was bl
The Ortonville Independent
Aug 21


Janet "Jan" Elaine Nelson
Janet "Jan" Elaine Nelson, age 89, of Glenwood, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at Glenwood Retirement Village under the care of hospice following a lengthy illness. A memorial service celebrating Janet and her late husband David will be held on Saturday, August 22, at 2:30 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Clinton with Pastor James Rach officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Inurnment will be at Clinton Ceme
The Ortonville Independent
Aug 21


Galen Gottschalk
Galen Gottschalk, age 85, of Ortonville, MN, passed away on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, at Fairway View Neighborhoods. In respecting Galen’s wishes, cremation will take place, and a private family ceremony will be held at a later date to honor his life and legacy. Galen Keith Gottschalk was born in McPherson, KS, on December 5, 1940, to Freddie and Elvira (Gillberg) Gottschalk. He was raised in Lindsborg, KS, and graduated from Lindsborg High School. In 1958, Galen enlisted
The Ortonville Independent
Aug 21


Gertrude Goldsmith
Gertrude Goldsmith, age 101, of Big Stone City, S.D., passed away Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026, at St. William’s Care Center in Milbank, S.D.
The Ortonville Independent
Aug 13


Dorothy Gmiterko
Dorothy Gmiterko, age 95, of Ortonville, Minn., passed away Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026, at Fairway View Neighborhoods in Ortonville.
The Ortonville Independent
Aug 13


Tamara “Tammy” Minder
Tamara “Tammy” Minder, age 63, of Estelline, S.D., passed away Wednesday, July 29, 2026, at her residence in Estelline.
Clarissa
Aug 13
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