Obituaries

David Alan Mills

David Alan Mills

Jan 11, 2021

David Alan Mills, age 86, of Westby, passed away Monday, January 11, 2021, at Bethel Home in Viroqua. He was born May 28th, 1934, in Illinois to the late Jack and Ruth (Royal) Mills. He attended New Trier High School in Winnetka, Illinois, and Dartmouth College in New Hampshire. He then went to Northwestern University Medical School in Chicago,...

Connie S. Best

Connie S. Best

Jan 9, 2021

Connie S. Best, age 53, of Viroqua, passed away Saturday, January 9, 2021, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center. She was born May 9, 1967, in Marshfield, Wis. She graduated from Wilmot Union High School with the class of 1985. Following graduation, she held various jobs. For much of her life, Connie had numerous health issues. She was a fighter...

Alice Verene Swiggum

Alice Verene Swiggum

Jan 6, 2021

Alice Verene Swiggum, age 89, of rural La Farge, passed away Wednesday, January 6, 2021, at her home. She was born September 18, 1931, in Vernon County to the late Byron and Gloy (Randles) Getter. She married Arnty Swiggum on September 16, 1961. Alice enjoyed working in her flower gardens, quilting, playing games and dancing, and having tea parties...

Wanda Mae Strait

Wanda Mae Strait

Jan 2, 2021

Wanda Mae Strait (Bishop), age 85, of Readstown, passed away Saturday, January 2, 2021, at her home. She was born September 9, 1935, in Cullowhee, North Carolina to the late Daniel “Charlie” and Jessie (Ashe) Bishop. After graduating high school in 1954, she enlisted in the Army. She served in the Women’s Army Corps with the 5017 Area Service...

Arne Haugen

Arne Haugen

Dec 30, 2020

Arne Haugen, age 69, of Westby, passed away Wednesday, December 30, 2020. Arne was born in Oslo, Norway to Erling and Reidun (Haugom) Haugen. He grew up in Skjetten -- a small town located approximately 12 miles from Oslo. As a child, he developed a passion for ski jumping. He started jumping when he was five years old. At...

Charmaine D. Aspenson

Charmaine D. Aspenson

Dec 29, 2020

Charmaine passed away peacefully at her home on December 29, 2020, at the age of 93. Charmaine was born on December 16, 1927, in Westby, WI. Charmaine graduated from Westby High School in 1945 and from the University of Minnesota where she earned a degree in Nursing in 1948. She married the love of her life, Everett Aspenson, in...

Lorraine Hope Stalsberg

Lorraine Hope Stalsberg

Dec 28, 2020

Lorraine Hope (Jennings) Stalsberg, age 92, of Viroqua, completed her life journey in the early morning hours of December 28, 2020, at The Bethel Home in Viroqua, Wisconsin. Lorraine was born on January 13, 1928, in Viroqua to Lloyd and Dorothy (Robinson) Jennings. Lorraine graduated from Viroqua High School in 1945 and then graduated from Teachers College in 1947....

Pauline F. Montgomery Moran

Pauline F. Montgomery Moran

Dec 27, 2020

Pauline Fern Montgomery-Moran, age 93, of Soldiers Grove, passed away peacefully on December 27, 2020. She was born in Crawford County to Kermit and Alma (Olson) Adams on May 20, 1927. Pauline was the eldest of two girls growing up on her parents' farm in Soldier Grove, Wis. She attended school in Soldiers Grove and lived her entire life...

Martin Leroy Coggon

Martin Leroy Coggon

Dec 26, 2020

Martin LeRoy Coggon, 74, passed away peacefully December 26, 2020, at Vernon Manor, in Viroqua. He was born on December 23, 1946, to James and Ester (McElhose) Coggon. Martin was raised in a farming family where big gardens and hard work was needed. He was among the last generations of tobacco growers. He had a soft spot for dogs...

Kathleen Woods

Kathleen Woods

Dec 25, 2020

Kathleen Woods, 76, of rural Cashton passed away December 25, 2020. She was born on August 24, 1944, to Chester and Joyce (Jeffers) Hilton. She graduated from Westby High School. She married William (Bill) Adams on August 26, 1962. They later divorced. She married Bruce Woods on April 2, 1983. She lived in the rural Westby/Cashton area most her...

Imogene M. Turben

Imogene M. Turben

Dec 25, 2020

Imogene Turben, 89, of Viroqua, passed away peacefully Friday, December 25, 2020, at Vernon Manor in Viroqua. Imogene was born December 6, 1931, in Crawford County to the late Roy and Florence (Hutchcroft) Maybee. She attended school in Soldiers Grove and married LaVerne Turben on January 15, 1949. She was a member of Kickapoo United Lutheran Church. In 1951,...

Ac  Fortney

Ac Fortney

Dec 23, 2020

Almon C. Fortney, age 84, passed away December 23rd, 2020. He was surrounded by his wife Sonja and daughter Cheryl, at Gundersen Health System. He joked and laughed up until his last breath. Almon (known as AC) was born June 27, 1936, to Arne and Thea (Krogan) Fortney of the Folsom area. AC graduated from Readstown High School in...

Nicholas Bernard Bahr

Nicholas Bernard Bahr

Dec 23, 2020

Nicholas Bernard Bahr, age 41, of Madison, passed away unexpectedly Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020. He was born Oct. 7, 1979, in La Crosse to Francis and Cheryl (Hilleshiem) Bahr. He graduated from Logan High School with the class of 1997. Following graduation, he attended U.W. La Crosse. He worked numerous jobs in the customer service field. Nicholas was a...

Anna Grace Owen

Anna Grace Owen

Dec 21, 2020

Anna Grace (Best) Owen, age 93, of Oswego, Illinois, and formerly of Viroqua, Wisconsin, passed away December 21, 2020. On March 11, 1927, Anna Grace was born in Viroqua to Ira and Marye Virginia (Strange) Best. She was baptized at the Viroqua Church of Christ at eleven years old. She attended the Vernon County Normal School and graduated from...

Sara Kathryn Kottke

Sara Kathryn Kottke

Dec 21, 2020

Sara Kathryn (Myers) Kottke, 81, Viroqua, Wisconsin, died peacefully at her home on December 21, 2020, surrounded by her family. Sara was born in Toledo, Ohio, and adopted as an infant by Gladys and Walter Myers of Findlay, Ohio, where she was raised along with her older brother, Donald. She attended Ohio University in Athens, and graduated as a...

Patricia A. Salmon

Patricia A. Salmon

Dec 19, 2020

Patricia A. (George) Salmon, age 77, of Soldiers Grove, passed away peacefully Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020, at Soldiers Grove Health Services. She was born July 23, 1943, to the late Laurel and Tolene (Helgerson) George. Patricia married Roger W. Salmon on Nov. 4, 1961. During her life, Patricia had worked as a bartender, worked at Fleming Orchards, and at...

Dr. Paul W. Cook D.D.S.

Dr. Paul W. Cook D.D.S.

Dec 18, 2020

Dr. Paul W. Cook, D.D.S., beloved husband, son, brother and uncle, 63, of Wauwatosa, WI passed away peacefully Friday, December 18, 2020, at St. Luke’s Medical Center in Milwaukee, WI. Paul was born May 30, 1957, in Viroqua, WI to Dr. Wayne and Esther (Sisbach) Cook. He was baptized and confirmed at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Viroqua, WI....

Tekla Katherine Bekkedal

Tekla Katherine Bekkedal

Dec 17, 2020

Tekla Katherine Bekkedal passed away Thursday, December 17, 2020, at Tioga Medical Long-Term Care in Tioga, ND. Tekla was born on May 20, 1926, to Lloyd and Clara (Sherry) Bekkedal in La Crosse, Wisconsin. She attended Westby, Wisconsin area schools and graduated in 1944. She went to college at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin. She taught high school in...

Ruth E. Giddings

Ruth E. Giddings

Dec 16, 2020

Ruth E. Giddings, age 87, of Gays Mills, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020, at Soldiers Grove Health Services. She was born March 12, 1933, to the late Richard and Bessie (Harper) Stagman. She loved gardening, crafts, the outdoors and animals. Survivors include her children, Bealis and Betsy Giddings; four grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; three siblings, Harold Stagman, Gloria (Alan)...

Ladonica Faye Nelson

Ladonica Faye Nelson

Dec 16, 2020

A beautiful soul was taken from us today. We’ve had the blessing of having our Mother’s love shine on us with caring encouragement and strength. Her thoughtfulness and patience helped mold us into the young people we are today. LaDonica (Volden) Nelson was taken into the arms of her Almighty Father on December 16, 2020. She is survived by...