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Sunset Funeral and Cremation Association, 100 North Avenue, Echo, MN (2026)

04/19/2026

The funeral service for Kenneth “Ken” Rikke, 85, of Belview, formerly of Echo, will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 23, 2026, at the Yellow Medicine Lutheran Church in Hanley Falls, MN. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, April 22, from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. at the Sunset Funeral Home in Echo. Visitation will continue on Thursday from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. at the Yellow Medicine Lutheran Church. A private family interment will take place at a later date.

Kenneth Ronald Rikke was born on February 7, 1941, in Vesta, MN, to Kenneth “Sam” and Luella (Maasch) Rikke. In 1948, he and his family moved to Hanley Falls where he attended fifth through twelfth grade. Ken was baptized as a baby in Vesta and was confirmed and an active member of Yellow Medicine Lutheran Church in Hanley Falls.

In 1959, he married Carol Ann Engel. The couple had three sons Brad Alan (Donna) from Boulder, CO, Brian Kenneth (Amie) from Vesta and Kevin Lee from Denver, CO, as well as grandchildren Luke, David, Rebecca and Derek and great-grandchildren Austin, Joshua, Blossom, Charlie and Lex.

Ken and Carol spent several years in California and most of their married lives around Hanley Falls, MN. Ken was self-employed and operated a road grading and gravel hauling/maintenance business for 30 years.

Ken died on Friday, April 17, 2026, at the St. Cloud Hospital in St. Cloud, MN. He is survived by his wife, Carol, three sons, four grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and sisters Shirley Gordon, Joyce Wright, Linda Rikke and Pam Rikke. He was preceded in death by his parents Sam and Luella and sisters Judy and Collette.

04/19/2026

The service commemorating the life of James “Jim” King, 64, of Wood Lake, will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at the Wood Lake United Methodist Church in Wood Lake, MN. Visitation will be held on Tuesday from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. with a Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m. at the church.

James Ernest “Jim” King was born on December 26, 1961, in Sioux Falls, SD, the youngest of seven children born to Nancy and Fred King. After moving to Robbinsdale and the passing of his mother, the family moved to Mazeppa where Jim spent his youth on the river, exploring and learning many life lessons. He gained another mother when his father remarried to Arnelda. Jim helped his parents as they owned and operated the Ponderosa Supper Club and Camp Ground.

After graduating from high school, Jim joined the U.S. Army and proudly served our country. He always had a great many stories about his life. After his discharge, he acquired a motorcycle and rode it back to Minnesota. Jim and his brothers Fred and John owned and operated King’s Construction. Jim was married to Colette King and to this union were born children Katrina, Daniel and Mitchell.
Jim later worked for Minnegasco until his retirement. Jim was very talented. He helped many people get their heat going in the winter and AC going in the summer. He enjoyed time with his customers and he was proud that he could help them. On October 6, 2001, he married his wife, April and three more children joined the family.
His greatest love was his family. He was a great father and grandfather and a friend to anyone who would let him hear their story. He had a lifelong love affair with anything with an engine from remote controlled airplanes to Jeeps, boats and snowmobiles. He treasured his time in the Chippewa National Forest. Starting with his father and brothers, the tradition of time spent here continued with his own boys. He also enjoyed camping during the summer with his family. In his retirement, Jim and April enjoyed travelling across the country. He enjoyed teaching his trade to his children and mentoring them as well.

Jim passed away in the early hours of April 17, surrounded by family after a courageous battle with cancer.
He is survived by his wife, April, of Wood Lake, children Katrina (Lacey) King of Maple Plain, Daniel King of Minneapolis, Mitchell (Sidra) King of Waconia, Jesse (Amanda) Warnke of Porter, Amber (Shawn) Jensen of Zumbrota, Caitlin (Tyler) Warren of Wood Lake, grandchildren Eleanor Warnke-Beilby, Charlotte Warnke-Beilby, Franklin Warren, Kaitlynn Jensen, Nicholas Jensen, Brooke Jensen; siblings Alice (Pat) Marsh of Rochester, Sue King of Bovey, Barb (Gary) Lind of Bovey, Mary King of Minneapolis, sisters-in-law Thelma Gomes of Hendricks, Dawn (Ray) Heinonen of St. Michael, Suzanne Brougham of Coldwater, MI, Kris King of Dayton; and many adored nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Nancy King, step-mother Arnie King, brothers John and Fred King and brother-in-law Roger Gomes

04/16/2026

The Sunset Funeral and Cremation Association wishes to express gratitude to Kris Slettedahl for more than 25 years of service. Thank you Kris and enjoy retirement! Kris was recently recognized by the Board of Directors at the 2026 annual meeting.

04/08/2026

Notice of Annual Meeting of
Sunset Funeral and Cremation Association

Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of the members of Sunset Funeral and Cremation Association will be held on Thursday, April 9, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. at the Sunset Funeral Home in Echo, Minnesota.
The purpose of the meeting will be as follows:
1- Approve the minutes of the previous Annual Meeting
2- Presentation of Reports
3- Election of directors
4- Such other business as may properly come before the meeting
Sunset Funeral and Cremation Association
By: Quinn M. Horvath
Manager

04/04/2026

Mass of Christian Burial for Robert “Bob” Zwach, 73, of Milroy, will take place at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Milroy. Visitation will be held from 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. at the church. Interment will follow the service at St. Michael’s Catholic Cemetery in Milroy.

Robert Steven Zwach was born on June 1, 1952, in Tracy, MN. He was the oldest of six children born to Robert Edward and Doris Cecelia (Halfmann) Zwach. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Milroy. Bob graduated from Milroy Public School and Canby Vo-Tech for Production Agriculture. He farmed with his dad from 1970 raising grain, hogs and cattle. Soon after, Bob met the love of his life, Debra Lynn Rudenick. On July 26th, 1975, the couple were married. To this union two children were born; Amanda “Mandy” Mary and Matthew Robert. Later, son-in-law Michael was added and a grandson Maxwell “Max” Robert. Bob was a stabilizing force for his family.

Bob and Deb enjoyed dancing, going for rides on their Harley or in their Duster, and going out to eat. They were known at every café and restaurant in the area, going for breakfast and also for supper most nights. With their family, they enjoyed playing Crazy 8, cracking silly jokes, four-wheeler rides, and watching Caitlin Clark play basketball. Bob’s eyes lit up every time his grandson, Max, entered the room. He enjoyed teaching Max about combining, playing pool, and golfing.

Bob loved his community and saw the value in doing business locally. He was always willing to help anyone in need and enjoyed his time holding many positions on various committees: Charger member and President of the Milroy Lion’s Club; Knights of Columbus member, President of FCAM Elevator Board; and Brandy Friday President for over 30 years; bringing over 120 members together.

Bob was cheerful, charismatic, and never late for anything in his life. He had his mom’s steadiness and his father’s silly nature. Bob kept a huge list of many birthdays and as a special treat, he would call the person of their special day and sing them the rubber ducky song. He also surprised friends and neighbors with fresh sweet corn delivered to their door.

Bob loved farming and watching the crops grow. He was proud to be on the original Zwach farm in Gales Township and proud of his Zwach Heritage. After his father retired from farming in 1990, he farmed with his brother, Tim. After being diagnosed with glioblastoma, Bob led his family through this devastating situation with wisdom, humor, and endless hugs. During his treatment, he continued to work on the farm; digging the fields and combining corn through the 2025 season. Bob was also able to enjoy his friends at golf league that last year.

After a courageous battle with cancer, Bob died on April 3, 2026, at Prairie Home Hospice Lockwood House in Marshall with his family surrounding him. We sang rubber ducky for him on this day.
He is survived by his wife, Deb, daughter Mandy (Michael) Weaklend, son Matthew, grandson Max Weaklend, brother Tim (Suzann) Zwach, sisters Lori (Pat) Dolan, Renee Zwach, Peg (Greg) Schmoll, Colleen Zwach (Jeff Seeman), brother-in-law Wayne (Jan) Rudenick, sisters-in-law Pam Maasch, Paula Lockhart, and Ann Rudenick and mother-in-law Mary Rudenick.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents Robert and Doris, father-in-law Russell Rudenick, brother-in-law Dean Rudenick, and niece Jenny Rudenick.

03/31/2026

Help Wanted
Part-Time Office Manager
Sunset Funeral & Cremation Association – Echo, MN

Sunset Funeral & Cremation Association is seeking a dependable and detail-oriented individual to serve as a part-time Office Manager.
Position Details:
• Approximately 15 hours per week
• Pay: $20/hour

Responsibilities include:
• General clerical and office support
• Accounts payable and accounts receivable
• Funeral service administration, including:
o Death certificate filing
o Memorial folder creation
o Memorial video production
• Oversight of office and facility needs

The ideal candidate will be organized, reliable, and comfortable working in a professional, service-oriented environment. Experience with office management or administrative work is preferred.

To Apply:
Please send your resume to:
Sunset Funeral Association
P.O. Box 1092
Marshall, MN 56258

03/12/2026

The funeral service for Jeanetta Hartke, 90, of Wood Lake, will take place at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Wood Lake. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. at the church. Interment will follow the service at St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery.

Jeanetta Fern (Kolander) Hartke was born on July 24, 1935, in Altamont, SD, to Herman and Hulda (Marquardt) Kolander. She grew up in rural Vesta and was baptized and confirmed at St. Johns’ Lutheran Church in Vesta. On May11, 1957, she was united in marriage to Walter Hartke at St. John’s Lutheran Church.
Jeanetta and Walter made their home and raised their family on a farm near Wood Lake. Jeanetta’s faith was important to her. She was a longtime member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Wood Lake and the St. John’s Women’s Society. She enjoyed flower and vegetable gardening and will be remembered for her baking, cookies and other treats.

Jeanetta died on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at Avera Morningside Heights in Marshall. She is survived by her children Susan (Mike) Baklarz of Estero, FL, Michael Hartke of Wood Lake, James Hartke of Marshall, Jason (Karen) Hartke of Wood Lake; four grandchildren David (Megan) Christle of Mountain View, CA, and Nikolas, Kaylee, and Jaxon Hartke of Wood Lake; sisters Delaine Schwartz of Vesta and June Luepke of Echo, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Walter, brothers and sisters Gordon, Gail, Elenora and Lucille.

03/12/2026

Mass of Christian Burial for Jane Irlbeck, 84, of Springfield, will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 14, 2026, at St. Anne’s Catholic Church in Wabasso. Visitation will be held on Friday, March 13, from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. with a Rosary at 4:00 p.m. at St. Anne’s and will continue on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. at the church. Interment will follow the service at St. Anne’s Catholic Cemetery in Wabasso.

Jane Ellen (Baune) Irlbeck was born on November 24, 1941, in Vail Township, to Gregor and Elenora (Hammerschmidt) Baune. She grew up in Wabasso and graduated from St. Anne’s Catholic School in 1959. On August 26, 1959, she was united in marriage to LeRoy Irlbeck. The couple lived in a variety of communities in the area, primarily in Wabasso. Jane worked for St. Anne’s School, the Wabasso Nursing Home, Salfer’s Clover Farm (Grocery Store), was a Bar Tender at Dicks Bar, was a Home Health Aid and later retired from SEI in Redwood Falls.

Family was the most important to Jane. She was an excellent host and enjoyed family gatherings. She had a big heart and her door was always open to all friends and family. She was a humble person and always willing to help others without looking for recognition. She was a good listener and was someone that people could turn to during difficult times. She also enjoyed traveling. In 2022, she was fortunate to visit all seven of her living siblings. In her later years, Jane enjoyed playing Bingo and many other social activities.

Jane died on Thursday, March 5, 2026, under hospice care at St. John’s Lutheran Home in Springfield, MN. She is survived by her daughter Tammy (Harley) Duscher of Willmar, daughter Amy Skalbeck (fiancé Tom Norstegard) of Morgan, son David (Jill) Irlbeck of Lamberton, 14 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, three bonus great-grandchildren; siblings Beatrice Riley of WA, Shirley Junt of AZ, Lorell Reiderer of Sleepy Eye, Pat (Ruth) Baune of Rochester, nieces, nephews, in-laws, relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband LeRoy, son Daniel, granddaughter Tarah Irlbeck, two brothers, two sisters, and other in-laws, relatives and friends.

02/22/2026

The funeral service for Margaret Inez Sander, 85, of Belview, will take place at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, February 27, 2026, at Grace Lutheran Church in Belview. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. at the church. Interment will follow the service at Grace Lutheran Cemetery in Belview.

Margaret Inez (McCarty) Sander was born on February 6, 1941, in Worthington, MN, to William and Georgianna (Jordan) McCarty. She was baptized at the Catholic Church in Worthington and confirmed at First Evangelical Lutheran Church. The family lived on their farmstead in rural Echo. Margaret attended Echo Township School. She was united in marriage to Tyler Eugene Sander on June 16, 1955. In 1956, they moved to their present home in Belview. Margaret received her LPN certification in Willmar in 1975 and, later, received her BS in Nursing in Willmar in 1997. She worked as a Nurse for 35 years in various places including the Granite Falls Hospital, Renvilla Nursing Home, Parkview Nursing Home and Wood Dale Nursing Home. She was a member of the Red Hat Organization, Daughters of the American Revolution, the American Legion Auxiliary and the Parkview Auxiliary. Margaret enjoyed crocheting, knitting, doll collecting, antique collecting, and genealogy. She also enjoyed time spent with family, being at the lake and her dog Sassy.

Margaret died on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at the Sanford Medical Center in Fargo, ND. She is survived by daughters Vicky (Marvin) Kuehn of Redwood Falls, Cheri Fern of St. Cloud, Rose Jackson (Michael) of Belview, and Mary (Tim) Schwaegerl of Brookings, SD; daughter-in-law Kathy Sander of Redwood Falls; son-in-law Doug Arnold of Brandon; 16 grandchildren, 41 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren; as well as siblings, relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Tyler Eugene Sander, son Robert Sander, daughter Patricia Arnold, grandson Brandon Sander, great-grandson Jaden Sander and her siblings.

Arrangements with
Sunset Funeral & Cremation Association
Echo, Minnesota
507.925.4145
www.sunsetfuneralassociation.com

02/18/2026

Mary Jennifer Crockett passed away on February 17, 2026, at the age of 57, following an extended illness. Born December 26, 1968, in Alpena, MI, she enjoyed a carefree childhood with siblings and friends, most often at their Partridge Point lake residence. As a teenager Mary had the opportunity to travel to Europe for a summer, and played a variety of sports, including tennis, softball, and cheerleading. She also began work as a CNA in the Alpena community which would later spark her love for her future God-directed career choice of occupational therapy. She graduated in 1993 from the College of St. Katherine in St. Paul, MN, with a B.S. in Occupational Therapy, and would serve in this career for over 32 years. She maintained that loving and serving others through this occupation was one of her most satisfying life decisions ever made. In her later adult life she met her life partner, Brian Krutchek, with whom she shared eight-plus years of compatibility and commitment.

Mary always held a special respect and care for her many patients, and also co-workers in occupational therapy.

Mary is survived by her mother, Susan Hoff, of Cottonwood, MN, her father, Wallace (Eunice) Crockett, of Traverse City, MI, her sister Emily (Kayne) Larimer, of Rapid City, SD, brothers Matt Crockett of Anchorage, AK, and Steve (April) Crockett, of Andover, MN, and her fiance, Brian Krutchek. Also surviving Mary are her children, Kurt (Emma) Daniels, Luke (Morgan) Daniels, Claire Daniels, and grandchildren twins Otto and Edith Daniels. She leaves behind her dear supportive friends Bill and Sue Keyes, Gwen and Jim Bacon, Julie and Paul Neisius, among many others who touched her life. Loyalty and laughter were among the qualities Mary cherished with her "people." She was preceded in death by her sister, Katie Crockett, and grandparents Clifford and Agnes Fischer, and Rev. Elmer and Frances Crockett.

A private memorial gathering for family and friends is being planned.

11/24/2025

Mass of Christian Burial for Nicholas “Nick” Guetter, Jr., 85, of Wabasso, will be at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, at St. Anne’s Catholic Church in Wabasso. A livestream and recording of the service will be available at https://www.youtube.com/. Visitation will be from 9:30 until 10:30 a.m. at the church, with a Knights of Columbus rosary beginning at 10:30 a.m. Interment will take place at a later date.

Nicholas Robert Guetter, Jr., was born on December 29, 1939, in Wabasso, to Nicholas Sr. and Mildred (Boever) Guetter. He attended St. Anne’s Catholic School, graduating in 1958. Nick then attended Dunwoody Vocational School in Minneapolis. After meeting Ann Tutewohl at a dance, the couple was married on June 22, 1963, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Rosemount. They lived in Bloomington until moving to Wabasso in 1975. Nick was a hard worker, first in the auto repair industry, then as an owner of a gas station and convenience store. He was also very involved in the Wabasso community, including as an active member of St. Anne’s Catholic Church, the Wabasso Lions Club, and a 4th Degree Knights of Columbus just to mention a few.

Nick loved time spent with friends and family. He and Ann took many trips, including memorable ones to Alaska, Hawaii, Germany, Ireland, and the Holy Land. Nick enjoyed all sports, both watching and sponsoring teams. He truly enjoyed sponsoring the Wabasso fast pitch softball team, and he was recently inducted into the Minnesota State Fast Pitch Softball Hall of Fame. He earned the nickname “Big Guy,” which followed him long past his softball career. He enjoyed watching his grandchildren and great grandchildren's sporting events as often as he could. Nick also enjoyed hunting and fishing, especially with his children and grandchildren at the family cabin and in Canada. He could often be seen riding around town in his side by side.

Nick died on Friday, November 21, 2025, at the Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD. He is survived by his wife Ann of 62 years of Wabasso; children Tom (Kelly) Guetter of Redwood Falls, Bob (Polly) Guetter of Miltona, and Pam (John) Hendrickson of Alexandria; grandchildren Kelsey (Cody) Rose, Bob Jr. (Kaitlin) Guetter, Colin (Jill) Guetter, Cheyenne Hendrickson, Carter (Morgan Franklin) Guetter, and Andrew (Sarah Anderson) Hendrickson; great-grandchildren Kaylee, Chloe, and Kelby Rose, Wyatt and baby-to-be Guetter, and Theo Hendrickson; siblings Louie Guetter, Lawrence (Leslie) Guetter, Mary Frericks, and Mike (Louise) Guetter; as well as many other relatives and friends. Nick was preceded in death by his parents Nick Sr. and Mildred Guetter, brother Eugene Guetter, and brother-in-law Ralph Frericks.

11/23/2025

Delores Mae Hogen, 93, of Springfield, formerly of Lucan, passed away peacefully on November 18, 2025, at St. John’s Nursing Home in Springfield. Mass of Christian Burial for Delores will be at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, November 24, 2025, at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church in Lucan. A livestream and recording of the service will be available at https://www.youtube.com/. Visitation will be Sunday from 4:00 until 6:00 p.m. at the Sunset Funeral Home in Wabasso with a prayer service at 6:00. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will follow at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Cemetery in Lucan.

Delores was born on May 1, 1932, in Aldrich, MN, to Louis and Helen Erkel, the youngest of 4 siblings. She grew up in Lamberton, graduating from Lamberton High School in 1950. On February 19, 1955, she was united in marriage to James Hogen at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Lamberton. To this union three children were born. Delores was a stay-at-home mom raising her 3 three boys. Later in life she worked at State Bank of Lucan until her retirement. Delores was very active in the community of Lucan and at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church. She was a dedicated wife, mother, and grandma. Her home cooked meals and baking made every family gathering special.

Delores is survived by her children Brian (Julie) of Springfield, Brad (Joy) of Pequot Lakes, Barry (Rebecca) of Golden Valley; grandchildren Ryne (Nicole) of Sartell, Kelsea of Maple Grove, Jennifer (Cody) of West Fargo, Megan (Erik) of Woodbury, Rachel (Andrew) of Inwood, WV and Isaac of Minneapolis; and one great-grandchild Oliver. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband James, and her 3 siblings Clifford, Howard, and Donald Erkel.

The family would like to express their gratitude to staff at St. John’s Nursing Home in Springfield and the staff at Allina Hospital in New Ulm.

Sunset Funeral and Cremation Association

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