Patricia ‘Patty’ Svihel, age 77, of East Bethel, and formerly of Foley, passed away July 1, 2023, after a courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease. Mass of Christian burial was July 6 at St. John’s Catholic Church in Foley. The Rev. Michael Wolfbauer officiated and burial took place in the parish cemetery. Visitation was at the church Thursday. A lunch was provided at Mr. Jim’s in Foley following the service. Service with dignity provided by the Foley Funeral Home. 

Deborah (Debbie) Sue Halfman, 52, of Dowagiac, Michigan, and formerly of Minnesota, passed away peacefully July 2, 2023.

Pastor Dennis Deppa, of St. Louis Park, age 82, passed away from natural causes at Methodist Hospital May 23, 2023. Dennis was born in Foley and was preceded in death by his parents, Bernard and Kathryn, infant brother Lawrence and brother Gary, Also by his in-laws Floyd and Ann Dray of Ronneby, Florence and Floyd Dray, Andrew Dray, Sherwin Arneson, ‘granddaughter’ Anne Widmer, and his special gift of a daughter Cheri Dray.  

Demain Koscielniak, 92, of Foley, passed away June 26, 2023, at The Gardens at Foley Nursing Center.

Dustan Spanier, 36, of Plymouth, passed away June 15, 2023.

Vincent (Rawetkiewiez) Ratka, Jr., 93, of Spring Lake Park, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family June 17, 2023, at Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids

Doris (Fosvick) Folley passed away June 9, 2023, after battling pancreatic cancer in her home in Coon Rapids, attended by her daughters, Tracy and Cheryl.

Jeffery Schmidt, 60, of International Falls, passed away June 14, 2023. Service times are pending. Service with dignity provided by the Foley Funeral Home.

Helen Carlson, 91, of Foley, passed away peacefully June 3, 2023 at The Gardens at Foley. The family was blessed with the opportunity to spend Helen’s last days in her company sharing short conversations, time of quiet companionship, and in the end, sweet smiles.  Funeral services  were 1 p.m. June 9, at Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Ronneby. The Rev. Barbara Peterson officiated. A visitation was noon to 1 p.m. at the church Friday. Burial will take place in the Ronneby Riverside Cemetery. Service with dignity provided by the Foley Funeral Home.  Helen Phyllis Carlson was born July 29, 1931, in Foley to George and Bessie Lee (Wood) Poorker. She was married to her loving husband, Charles Carlson, for 61 years, living on the family farm for years. She loved her flower beds, reading and cross stitch. For many years, she bred and raised Boston terriers. She was at all the high school football games. She even ran the Oak Park Café for a short time. Garage sales were a favorite pastime. She is survived by her five children: Tom (Judy) Carlson, Chuck (Renee) Carlson, Diane Nordang, Linda (Dewey) Kunkel and Lorri Carlson, as well as 15 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren.  Helen is preceded in death by her husband, mother and father, sister and brothers, along with her son Mike Carlson. She was the last of her generation.

Helen Carlson, 91, of Foley, passed away Saturday, June 3, 2023. Funeral services will be 1 p.m., Friday, June 9, at Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Ronneby. Visitation will be from noon to 1 p.m. at the church Friday.  Service with dignity provided by the Foley Funeral Home. A full obituary will be published in next week’s Benton County News.

Darlene Schwintek, 85, of Clear Lake, passed away May 31, 2023, at her home surrounded by her family.  Mass of Christian burial will be 11 a.m., Wednesday, June 7, at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Duelm. The Rev. Joseph Backowski will officiate and burial will take place in the parish cemetery. Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m., Tuesday evening at the Foley Funeral Home and will continue from 10-11 a.m. at the church Wednesday. Service with dignity provided by the Foley Funeral Home.

Vego Jon Larson, 64, of Watkins, passed away May 29, 2023, at Hilltop Health Care Center in Watkins. A funeral service will take place June 7, 2023, at Glendorado Lutheran Church in Princeton at noon. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to noon at the church. The Rev. Shari Routh will officiate. Burial will take place in the church cemetery. Service with dignity provided by Foley Funeral Home.