May 2023

Bradley Harold Jenkins, 71, of Crookston passed away early Saturday morning, May 20, 2023, in Benedictine Living Community Crookston. A memorial service will be held in Stenshoel- Houske Funeral Home, Crookston, at 1 p.m., Thursday, June 15, 2023, with Pastor David Finsaas officiating. Visitation with the family will be for one hour prior to the service. The funeral will be livestreamed by going to Brad’s obituary page at www.stenshoelhouske.com and clicking on the prompt to view.

Ralph Vigoren, 70, of Gully passed away on Monday, May 22 after a brief battle with colon cancer at Essentia Hospital in Fosston. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, May 31 at Bethel Assembly Church in Fosston with Pastor Seth Johnson officiating. Interment will be in Froen Cemetery, rural Fosston. Visitation will be held from 12 until 2 p.m. on Wednesday, May 31 at the church. Arrangements are with Carlin Family Funeral Service of Fosston. Messages of condolence may be sent and a livestream of the service viewed at www. carlinfuneral.com. Memorials will be donated to the Sand Hill Lake Bible Camp. From Ralph... I was born May 19, 1953, in Fosston to Ole and Ruth (Mickelson) Vigoren. I attended the Sunnyside one-room school in Queen Township through 6th grade. In 1971, I graduated from Fosston High School. During the 70s, and throughout high school, I worked at Hartz in Fosston for Poop Offerdahl. I enjoyed this job because it gave me the opportunity to visit with people in the community. At Christmas we sold lutefisk out of wood barrels at the back of the store. In the fall of 1971, I attended Thief River Falls Vocational School for the trade of welding. After graduating, I worked as a welder for two years at United States Steel in Mountain Iron. Kay, Andrea, and I lived outside of Virginia, Minn., during this time. After a move back to the Fosston area, I worked as a farm hand for my father-in-law, Lloyd, for four years. After that, I started at American Crystal Sugar in Crookston where I welded for 28 years, all while raising four children. During a chance encounter while upgrading my cell phone, I started visiting with Ken Charpentier. This led to a job with Charps Welding and Fabricating in Clearbrook which I held for nine years. This job gave me the opportunity to travel across the U.S. and see sites I had never seen. I took advantage of being able to visit with friends and family along the way. Charps Welding and Fabricating was very good to

We are sad to announce that on Saturday, May 13, 2023, Jack, loving husband to Kate, father to four children and two stepchildren, grampa to seven grandchildren, one stepgrandchild, passed away at age 76 at Sanford Medical Center in Fargo, N.D. with his wife, Kate and his children by his side.

Sr. Mary Ellen Proulx, 80, of Wichita, Kan. passed away on Saturday, March 4 at Mount St. Mary. A Memorial Mass will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, May 26 at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Gentilly with Monsignor David Baumgartner presiding. Interment will be in the parish cemetery. Family will greet friends for one hour prior to the service at the church. Arrangements are with Carlin Family Funeral Service of Erskine and messages of condolence may be shared at www.carlinfuneral.com. Sr. Mary Ellen was born in Crookston to Noel and Cerisa (Hamel) Proulx of Red Lake Falls (RLF). She was the sixth child born in the family of nine children. She attended St. Joseph’s elementary school in RLF, St. Anne’s elementary school in Somerset, Wis., and Somerset public schools in high school. During her high school years, she realized her calling to be a nun. She then attended and graduated from St. Joseph’s Academy High School in Crookston. She went on to be a Novice at Provincial House in Crookston. She attended and graduated with her teaching degree at Vertibro College in. She recently celebrated her 61st anniversary of taking her vows. Sr. Mary Ellen was a classically trained musician who ministered music for 47 years to grade schools, high schools, cathedral and parish choirs. She also helped with Children’s Theatre, mission work in Guatemala, musicals at Brady High School, sing-alongs at family gatherings. Her gift was bringing joy and the Gospel through music. She was a loving sister, aunt, teacher, and friend. Sr. Mary Ellen Proulx is survived by her siblings Angie Rivard, Phyllis Proulx, Gene (Pat Gagner), Bill (Patti Ross), Monica (Tim Audette) and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Preceded in death by parents Noel and Cerisa, her siblings John, Joan (Pasiuk) and Jim.