Age 42

Passed away on January 29, 2024. Preceded in death by grandpa, Herb Davis; dad, Skip Hassel. Survived by mom, Pat Hassel; sister, Laura (Brian) Plantenberg; grandma, Mary Ann Davis; kids, Hannah and Jess Binsfeld and Aiden Hassel (mom, Tashia Lean); nephew, Thomas Plantenberg; many aunts, uncles and cousins and girlfriend, Laura Casland. Jeff was a gentle and loving soul who could win you over with little more than a playful smirk. He loved to cook and greatly enjoyed the time he spent working at Shamrocks and Louis. He was also proud to call St. Paul his home and was as true of a Minnesota Vikings fan as they come. Jeff fought a long and courageous battle with his traumatic brain injury, beating the odds at every turn. We want to extend a special ‘thank you’ to the angels at North Ridge Health and Rehab where he lived over the last 6.5 years – he adored his family that was created there.

Visitation 4:00 – 7:00 pm Monday, February 5th, at Roberts Funeral Home, 8108 Barbara Ave., Inver Grove Heights with a time of sharing at 6:00 pm. Graveside Service 11:00 am Tuesday, February 6th, 2024 at Resurrection Cemetery, Mendota Heights, with lunch to follow.

Every season, Jeff believed it would be the year the Vikings would take things all the way to the Super Bowl. We ask that you help celebrate Jeff’s life by wearing your purple and gold Vikings gear to the visitation.

Herman Lee Jackson passed away suddenly on Jan 27.

Preceded in death by his father, Herman Lee Jackson Sr. Survived mother, Lucy Jaunester Davis; stepmother, Gloria Lawler; two sisters, Debra Jackson, Theresa Jackson; two nieces, Greshonda Phillips, Felicia Alowonle; Nephew, Herman J. Jackson. Herman also leaves behind a fiancé; 2 children; 2 aunts, Atlean and Gladys; uncle, Sammy Cain; and a host of cousins, family and friends that loved him. He was charming, kind, loved to smile and liked basketball. Herman will truly be missed and forever in our hearts.

Memorial Service 1:00 pm Wednesday, February 7^th, at Roberts Funeral Home, 8108 Barbara Ave., Inver Grove Heights, MN.  Visitation 12:00 noon – 1:00 pm prior to the service.

Age 88, Formerly of Mendota Heights, MN

Passed away peacefully on January 23, 2024.

Preceded in death by parents Edwin & Fern; siblings Audrey, Vaughn & Jeannette; niece Linda.

Survived by husband of 64+ years, Al; children Karen (Skip), Kenneth (Nancy), Keith (Rhonda), Karl (Chelly); grandchildren Andy (Shannon), Jeff (Kathleen), Dale (Sydney), Katlin (Brandon), Teresa, Shannon (Ryan), Jeremy (Amina); great-grandchildren Hendrix, Everett, Kennedy, Elin; extended family, nieces, nephews and friends.

Janice loved to quilt, read, travel and spend time with family & friends. Jan was also very charitable and believed in service to others. She donated Blood (had at least two 5-gallon pins), Quilted at Augustana Lutheran Church in West St. Paul and Burnsville Community Center, as well as donating her time at Neighbors Clothes Closet in South St. Paul. She will be missed by many!

Memorial Service 11 am Tuesday, January 30^th, 2024 at Amazing Grace Lutheran Church, 7160 So. Robert Trail, Inver Grove Hts. Visitation prior to service at 10 am followed by a light lunch and Interment at Acacia Park Cemetery.

Memorials appreciated Neighbors Clothes Closet www.neighborsmn.org/donate, Trinity Care Center https://fhs.sfhs.org, Amazing Grace Lutheran Church https://aglcigh.org.

Age 80, of Inver Grove Heights and Minnetonka, MN

Bruce passed peacefully at home, on December 5, 2023, after a courageous battle with cancer.  Survived by Solveig (Overvold) Bentson, wife of 25 years; brother Charles A. Bentson (who died January 19, 2024); son Kelly, (Chrissy) Oachs (Kelly died suddenly on Dec. 14, 2023); stepdaughter Allison (Dean) Gabbert; three grandchildren (Ben & Max Gabbert and Emily Oachs) sisters and brothers-in-law:  Helen Lindlauf, Phil (Vicki) Overvold, Ardis (Randall) Libak, Elizabeth (James) Berg; nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Preceded in death by:  mother, Bernice “Bea” (Wallien) Bentson, father Harold B. Bentson, brothers and sisters, Gerald (Carolyn) Bentson and Donny Bentson, Cozette Bentson and Barbara Bevey, brothers-in-law, Verdell E. Hage, Jerry R. Hage and David B. Overvold.

Bruce was born in Montevideo, MN, March 11, 1943, the youngest of six children.  During high school, he and his mom moved to St Paul, MN, where he joined the Army National Guard and began his years of employment at:  Great Northern Railroad; Burlington Northern Railroad; Ramsey Co. Sheriff’s Office; Ford Motor Company; and Department of Human Services at the State of MN from 1981 – 2006.  Bruce and Solveig married in June 1998 and both retired in 2006.  Bruce loved retirement. His favorite “fun-things-to-do” were:  golfing, karaoke, golfing! He especially loved the winter get-away golf trips in AZ. Vacations to visit out-of-state family were also important.  Bruce enjoyed making people laugh, singing at church and karaoke events, volunteering either at Neighbors, Inc, or at his church.  When the grandkids arrived, life got even more fun. He introduced them all to karaoke. Bruce’s most recent passion was singing with a Seniors group called Alive & Kickin’ with weekly rehearsals, a big show for the public each June, and smaller performances during the year in various Minnesota communities.  We miss you Bruce/Brucie/Gramps/Grandpa/Uncle/Friend.

A service celebrating the life of Bruce will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 7600 Cahill Ave, Inver Grove Hts., MN and will be livestreamed at https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/4865628410. Visitation one hour prior to the service at church.

Interment will be in August 2024 at North Prairie Cemetery in rural Velva, ND.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to: Good Shepherd Lutheran Church or Neighbors, Inc. in So. St. Paul, or Alive & Kickin’ or donor’s choice.

Age 38

Inver Grove Heights, MN

Lissa passed away peacefully at her home on January 20, 2024, surrounded by her family.  At a very early age, Lissa developed a unique ability to develop and nurture strong friendships that she carried through to all phases of her life – often being the common thread bringing others together. First with teammates of the various sports teams that she excelled on through high school as well as with other classmates at Simley High School, and then while at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, her talent for developing long-lasting friendships was unmatched.  After graduating college, she began her career with the City of Inver Grove Heights where she used her sense of humor and outgoing personality to serve the residents of Inver Grove Heights and develop genuine, caring relationships with co-workers not often found in the workplace.  Her greatest relationships were formed with her family – first as a daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece, and cousin, and then as a loving wife, mother, and aunt.  She enjoyed nothing more than being a mom to her children, Henry (8) and Charlotte (6) and passing on to them so many of her best qualities.

Lissa was preceded in death by her grandparents, Robert and Phyllis Smyth and Thomas and Margaret Blum; uncle and aunt, Thomas and Judy Blum, and uncle Dan Machacek.  She is survived by her husband, Brett; children, Henry and Charlotte; parents, Barb and Tim Biljan and Terry Blum and Mary Bang; sister, Megan Blum; nephew and niece, Easton and Beckett; best friend Danielle Fox, and many aunts, uncles, cousins, close friends, and extended family.  Although her time on Earth was shorter than anyone hoped or planned, she lived a full life with a positive impact on so many that will carry on for lifetimes over.

A gathering is planned from 12:00pm-3:00pm on Thursday, January 25^th at Roberts Funeral Home, 8108 Barbara Avenue in Inver Grove Heights followed by a Celebration of Life from 4:30pm-7:00pm at The Croatian Hall, 445 2^nd Avenue S. in South St. Paul.  There will be a private internment at St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota.

The family would like to extend their gratitude to the in-home care team at Our Lady of Peace Hospice – especially her nurse, Suzanne, which through their support allowed Lissa to remain in her home comfortably surrounded by family and friends during her final days.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be directed to Lissa’s Legacy fund or to Our Lady of Peace Hospice.

Age 91

Born 7-9-1932

Passed away peacefully after an aggressive battle with cancer, surrounded by loved ones on January 17th, 2024. Survived by his wife of 66 years, Marjorie; children, CoLinda (Kevin) and Anthony (Jenny); grandchildren, Samantha (JD), Natalie & Emily; great-grandchildren, Gavin, Gabriella, Cruz & Jaidalynn.

Preceded in death by parents, Nelces & Hazella; brothers, John (Karen), Butch; sisters, Shirley (Dick) Pepin.

Born and raised in St. Paul, LeRoy was a devoted Catholic. He joined the military and served overseas in both the Korean and Vietnam wars. He was an avid State Fair fan and met the love of his life there, Marjorie. They married, traveled, and settled in South Saint Paul, where they built and raised their family.

LeRoy worked at the MN Zoo and retired from MN DOT. He loved to travel with the most wonderful woman in the world, Marjorie. His other favorite pastimes were summers at the cabin with family and tinkering around on different projects. Family was everything. Taking the kids, grandkids, and great grandkids to the MN State Fair, to attending sporting events and school activities, he was always there. LeRoy made a friend wherever he went. He had a story, a conversation, and usually a cup of coffee.

Visitation 4-7 pm on Sunday, January 28^th at Roberts Funeral Home, 8180 Barbara Ave., Inver Grove Hts. Mass of Christian Burial 11 am Monday, January 29^th at The Church of St. Patrick, 3535 72nd Street E, Inver Grove Heights. Visitation 10-11 am prior to Mass at the church. Luncheon to follow. Burial at St. Patrick’s Cemetery.

Age 53 of Northfield

Passed away peacefully at home, on January 17, 2024.

Survived by her husband, Scott; two children, Cody and Kayla; mother, Linda (Dan) Williams; father, William Dillon; brothers, Jason (Tanya) Kesti, Shane (Crystal) Dillon; sister, Stacy (Keith) Horkey; as well as many nieces and nephews.

Preceded in death by her brother, Rick; and father, Duane.

Brenda enjoyed woodworking, horses and being a mother.

Memorial Service 12 noon Tuesday, January 23^rd, 2024 at Roberts Funeral Home, 8180 Barbara Ave., Inver Grove Hts. Visitation 10 am-noon prior to the service. Luncheon to follow at Drac’s Pub, 6710 Cahill Ave., Inver Grove Hts.

Donna Mae Richardson (née Aho), 89, of Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota, passed away on January 11, 2024. She was born on March 18, 1934, in Gilbert, Minnesota. Donna was a beloved wife, mother, sister, aunt, grandmother and homemaker.

Donna is survived by her loving husband of 69 years, Thomas and their children: Michael (Sue), Steve, Laurie (Robert) Wing, and Scott (Beth Anne). She is also survived by her brother Ken (Aho), sisters, Kathy (Gary) Beatty and Carol (Tom) Moore; grandchildren, Dominick (Erika), Ryan (Karen), Ashela (Eric), Emily, Joanna (Mike), Trevor, Michael, Shawna, Brittney (Max); great-grandchildren, Olivia, Madeline, Sofia, Kolton, Mateo; as well as a host of extended family and friends. Donna was preceded in death by her parents, Alfred Aho and Bertha (Aho) Gundy, and her daughter, Jill.

Donna dedicated her life to her family by creating a loving home to gather, as she was a talented cook who took great pride in making sure her loved ones always had a place to get together.

In her free time, Donna enjoyed indulging in her favorite hobby of karaoke. Her love for music and performing at family gatherings brought joy to those around her. Donna’s performances were always met with applause and laughter. She also was an avid golfer, enjoying many years playing with her local women’s league.

The family would like to extend gratitude to Roberts Funeral Home for their assistance during this difficult time. Their professionalism and compassion have been invaluable.

We pray Donna Mae Richardson’s soul finds eternal peace, and may her memory be a source of comfort and inspiration to all who knew and loved her.

A funeral service to honor Donna’s life will be held on Sunday, February 4, 2024, at Roberts Funeral Home, 8108 Barbara Ave. Inver Grove Heights. Visitation will begin at 12pm, followed by the service at 1pm. Family and friends are invited to join in Celebrating Donna’s Life and sharing cherished memories.

Memorials preferred in Donna’s name to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Age 87, of Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota.

Fran passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on January 14, 2024. Fran is preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Nina Ryan of St. Paul; sister, Mary Jo Richardson of Shoreview. Survived by her husband of 65 years, Larry; daughters, Mary (Bill) Braddock of Phoenix, Arizona, and Kathleen (John) Fern of Dallas, Texas; grandchildren, Katie Braddock, Kelly (Tony) George, Justin and Megan Fern; great-grandchildren, Jayna and TJ George; brother, John (Marion) Ryan; nieces and nephews, Jim, Fran, Mike and Maureen. Also survived by other great nieces and family members.

Fran graduated from St. Joseph’s Academy in 1954 and the College of St. Catherine in 1958, with a Bachelor of Arts in elementary education. She was an active volunteer serving Catholic organizations such as Catholic Charities for many decades. An avid bridge player, Fran belonged to several groups and cherished the life-long friendships that developed while playing cards. Quiet and reserved, Fran was a woman of faith and integrity. She was a tireless caregiver who loved her family, friends, and community.

Mass of Christian Burial 11 am Monday, January 22, 2024 at The Church of St. Patrick, 3535 72nd Street E, Inver Grove Heights and will be livestreamed at https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/7711537138. Visitation 10-11 am prior to Mass at the church. Luncheon to follow. Burial at Resurrection Cemetery, Mendota Heights. In lieu of flowers, tribute donations can be made in her name to Catholic Charities.

Age 71

Sandra “Sam” Catherine Gundry was a caring wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. She left this world peacefully on January 10, 2024 at age 71 after battling various illnesses.

Daughter of Don and Jo Senander, Sam was the eldest of 6, born on April 16, 1952 and would be followed by Suzie (Mike) White, Terry Senander, Patti (Dan) Moreseth, Kady Smith, and Kris Senander.

Sam was married to Jeff Gundry in 1974 and together they had three children, Jake (Brandy), Matt, and Dave (Alanna); and two grandchildren, Greta and August.

Sam was a talented baker and candy maker and loved many other arts like calligraphy, cake decorating, and cosmetology.  She was also a very proud Navy Wife, supporting Jeff and family during his 23 years of service.

And while the arts kept her busy, her true love was for the relationships she had with family, friends and coworkers.  Sam was second mom to many, always ready to give a helping hand and a big hug.

A visitation is scheduled for 10 am January 31st, 2024, with a funeral service at 11, and refreshments to follow at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Inver Grove Heights.  In lieu of flowers, please donate to your charity of choice.