Ralph Lentz of Lake City died on October 1, 2017. Many memorials in his name have been provided to the Sustainable Agriculture & Forestry Scholarship Endowment Fund because he represented the essence of sustainable thinking. He was an Agricultural Teacher at the Lake CIty High School were he was an advisor to the Future Farmers of America, and he owned a farm outside town where he practiced what he taught.

Here is what donors had to say:

In memory of Ralph Lentz, the passionate grass farmer who was a pioneer in the industry in Minnesota. He led the way in studying, demonstrating, and implementing rotational grazing management in a sustainable agricultural system.  

                                                                   —Ralph’s Buddies

In memory of Ralph Lentz: who gave us the wisdom

to sustain the future of our environments

and our agriculture.  

                                                          —Deirdre Flesche & Dag Knudsen

In memory of Ralph Lentz who taught sustainable farming techniques to students in the USA and overseas.  

                                                               —Bruce and Kathleen Ause

Donors have offered

the following memorials and comments as reasons for their donations:

My donation is in memory of my father Ray Parrott.

—Bob Parrott

My donations are in memory of Dr. Bernhard & Kathleen Flesche “because of their lifelong commitment to caring for their community,”

—Deirdre Flesche, Lake City, MN

“In memory of Tine Thevenin who was a passionate defender of the natural environment.” —Donation from the Tine Thevenin Memorial Fund and Dag Knudsen

In memory of my father, Lester L. Martin.

—Carolyn J. Bizien

In memory of Dorothy Rohner (1936–2015)

—Ralph and Filomena Kaehler

A donation has been made in memory of Friends who died recently all of whom enriched our lives in so many ways:

Mary Ulland for her humor and courage in the face of adversity.

Paula Sullivan for her tireless effort to improve every community in which she lived.

Donna Halvorson for being a model of sanguineness.

Lucy Sontag for her efforts in developing the first computerized vaccination records for school age children.

Jim Abbott for his contributions to civic life in Wabasha County.

Jane Bush for pioneering women’s empowerment in her community.

Joy Larson for incorporating her love of gardening to improve aesthetics of her community.

Bob Parrott for his amazingly wide range of activities contributing to the well being of Lake City, from photography to history knowledge to service club to city boards.

Marilyn Seigel for her fierce advocacy for women and as Executive Director of the Rolling Hills Girl Scout Council, Somerville, NJ.

—Deirdre Flesche

and Dag Knudsen

Dennis Hatleli (1943–2021) for his roles as teacher, musician, and environmental advocate.

—Diane J. Hatleli

—Deirdre Flesche

and Dag Knudsen

Our donation is in memory of Roy & Ruth Geppert because of their hard work as farmers who made it possible for me to obtain two college degrees in forest management and forest tree physiology/plant ecology.

—Rollie and Susan Geppert

Our donation is in memory of Paul Gruchow because of his graceful and knowing writing about both the richness and the realities of the prairie,”

—S & DH

My donations are in memory of Jack & Rosanna Goihl because of my parents and hard-working farmers of Lake City, MN”

—Elisabeth Goihl, St. Paul, MN

“My donation is in memory of

Dr. David Sontag ”

—Deirdre Flesche, Lake City, MN

In Memory of George O’Brien

—James A. O’Brien

In Memory of Fred Myers

—Helen Myers

My donation is in memory of  my Great Grandfather Ryan who promoted organic farming methods.

—Patricia Barone

In Memory of Dr. Frank (“Doc”) Lupton (1932–2021) for his irrepressible positive influence on those with whom he came in contact, as reflected by his favorable saying: “The sun is shining, the birds are singing, it's a great day to be alive!” Frank was recognized as one of the national leaders in outdoor recreation programming. For many years, leading hundreds of students through the wilderness, typically out west, for semester-long experiences to earn Wilderness Steward Certification.

In Memory of  John Mcheel

—Patty Svien

In Memory of Christopher Miehlisch

—Andrea and Eric Miehlisch

In memory of our dear friend and neighbor: Tom Tallakson,

—Anne & Ed Towey

Donations have been provided

In Memory of

Kathryn “Katie” Schmidt

of Lake City, MN

(1926—2019)

You enriched our lives!

—Constance Anderson

—Deirdre Flesche

—Dag Knudsen

—and several others

In memory of

Stephen Baard Flesche (1941–2014)

Kirsten & Hamilton Kurtz

In Memory of Dori Nelson Schmauss (1922–2021), the trendsetter, social worker, community activist and friend to all. As a trendsetter Dori, at age 20, was among the first 800 women to serve in the Army during WWII achieving a rank of Staff Sergeant. She went on to become a social worker for 27 years upon graduation from Smith College in Massachusetts with a master’s degree in social work – an impressive feat for a young woman of her time.

In Memory of Kay Manross (1944–2014)   She lived life with elegance and touched many people as a caring and sassy friend, a steadfast wife and a loving mother. She was the glue that kept the family functioning at its best.

My donations are in memory of my husband  Fred S. Meyers

—Helen Myers

Your Honorees and Memorials here:

When you make a donation in memory of someone, feel free to give us some background and a photo so we can honor that person.

Dick Broeker (1942–2004) formerly of St. Paul and Lake City, MN working as an aid to Mayor George Latimer, helped launch the City of St. Paul’s District Energy system that heats and cools most of downtown, was a co-founder of Taste of Minnesota, helped the city get the World Trade Center (now Wells Fargo Plaza), helped save historic buildings in Lowertown and start the Farmers' Market, and led the effort to redevelop the St. Paul riverfront.

Broeker later became president of the St. Paul Riverfront Corporation, helping to restore the city’s ties to the river. Patrick Seeb, president of the St. Paul Riverfront Corporation, said Broeker was the impetus of the corporation.

“He was a genius and had incredible energy and incredible ideas,” Seeb said. “The stuff we are doing today traces back to the principles and core values that he led with.”

More recently, Broeker had been director of Southeast Minnesota’s Experiment in Rural Cooperation, one of five University of Minnesota regional partnerships.

Dag & Deirdre:

My donation is in Memory of Dick Broeker:

What a wonderful thing you’ve created.

Thanks for letting me know—I know Dick

would be right there with  you on this

     —Mary Broeker

Dean Harrington (1950—2019) Dean was an avid reader of philosophy, fiction, poetry, and economics, and he engaged in many pursuits to improve communities and enhance environmental sustainability. Dean sang and played songs on his guitar that he wrote for his grandchildren. He was on many organizations’ boards over the years, such as Land Stewardship Project, Jon Hassler Theater, Rural America Writers’ Center, Experiment in Rural Cooperation (University of Minnesota), Plainview Area History Center, Plainview School Board, and Plainview Area Development Corporation. Before beginning his banking career, Dean worked on a dairy farm and maintained a professional and warm appreciation for agriculture throughout his banking career.

Donations in honor of Dean and his legacy comes from Larry Gates, Jeff Gorfine, Roger Steinberg, and others.

Text and photo from Post Bulletin

Terry Jay Helbig (1947–2022) Terry left behind an incredible list of accomplishments of benefit to the public: Following graduation, he began a career with the Minnesota DNR, ending his career in Lake City where he had been stationed since 1970. Over his career he: Acquired over 10,000 cares of land for inclusion in the Richard J Dorer Memorial Hardwood State Forest. Included in this total are all of the Zumbro Bottoms Unit and all but 240 acres of the Snake Creek Unit; Developed unique silvicultural practices for both upland and lowland timber types. Initiated the Wabasha County Forestry Day Program, which has been an annual event since 1977; Developed the Easy Wheeling Nature Trail, the first wheelchair accessible nature trail in the State; Developed campgrounds in the Zumbro Bottoms Unit. The west assembly area is now the highest grossing forestry campground in the state; Developed the rifle range at Kruger Recreation Area; Initiated the Wabasha 5th Grade conservation day, one of the first in the state; Initiated the Wabasha County Woodland Manager of the Year Award, the first in the state; Was a member and officer of the Minnesota Forestry Employees Association; Was a past member and officer of the Society of American Foresters; Founding member and secretary of the Wabasha County Forestry Committee; Board member of Minnesota Forestry Association; Regional Chair of the Minnesota Tree Farm Committee; Life member and past officer of the Minnesota Forestry Employees Association; In addition, he was a member of the Wabasha Soil and Water Conservation Board, and the Wabasha County Fair Board. He also spent many years as a volunteer for the Wabasha County Historical Society. He was an exhibitor in the county exhibits at the Minnesota State Fair for over 20 years.

In Memory of Terry Helbig on behalf of the Southeast Landscape Committee

Text and photo from Mahn Funeral Home