News | Sports | Opinions | Obits | Social Scene | Subscribe | Churches | Columns News Sports Opinions Obits Social Scene Classifieds Heritage Fair Threshing Bee Advertising Subscribe Windom News Churches Columns Observer/Advocate P.O. Box 429 Mt. Lake, MN 56159 Phone: 507-427-2725 Fax: 507-427-2724 Saturday, May 18, 2013 Vesta Schmidt Gene Buhler Vesta Schmidt Vesta Schmidt, 83, of Mt. Lake died May 7, 2013, at Good Samaritan Society-Sogge Memorial in Windom. Memorial services were Monday at Bethel Mennonite Church in Mt. Lake with Rev. Galen Kauffman officiating. Sturm Funeral Home of Mt. Lake handled the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.sturmfh.com. Vesta Lorraine Stahl was born Nov. 28, 1929, to Jake and Sarah (Hofer) Stahl in Doland, S.D. She attended country school near Doland and later taught country school in South Dakota for one year before moving to Minnesota. In 1944, Vesta was baptized and in 1948 her church membership was transferred to Bethel Mennonite Church in Mt. Lake where she remained a member the rest of her life. In 1949, Vesta married Earl Schmidt at Bethel Mennonite Church. She was involved in Worship & Sew, the refreshment committee and served as a deacon. Vesta spent much of her life as bookkeeper for Schmidt Construction. She also helped build and operate Midway Motel and Mobile Home Park and served as township clerk for many years. Vesta was a charter member of the Iota Study Club and a member of Wa-tan-ye. She enjoyed baking and catering for special occasions and was known for her cake decorating, doughnuts and cookies. She also enjoyed quilting, bowling, fishing and spending time at the “cabin” on Rice Lake near Paynesville. She was preceded in death by her husband, Earl Schmidt; a sister and brother-in-law, Mable and Abe Schmidt; a son-in-law, Ken Warmka; and a grandson, Jason Winters. Survivors include her four daughters and son: Carla (Roger) Rahn of Mt. Lake; Sandy (Dale) Winters of Barnhart, Mo.; Sherry Warmka of Easton; and Nene (Dean) Smestad of Windom; 13 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Sylvia (Delbert) Riter of Lake Norden, S.D.; and Darlene (Wilmar) Buller of Mt. Lake.  Back to top Gene Buhler Gene Buhler, 68, of Laguna Beach, Calif., formerly of Butterfield, died March 21, 2013, at his home following a 6˝-month battle with cancer. Gene Arthur Buhler was born Aug. 7, 1944, to Arthur and Helen Buhler in Butterfield. He was the middle of five children. Gene graduated from Butterfield-Odin High School where he excelled in sports. Gene attended Bethel College in St. Paul and then the University of Minnesota. In 1965, Gene married Joan Hunstad. They moved to Southern California in 1967, where he worked as a respiratory therapist at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena, Calif. He then returned to school and began a career as a private investigator. The majority of his years as a PI were with attorney Mark P. Robinson Jr. Gene played a significant role in winning the Ford Motor Pinto case in 1978. Even though Gene came to faith as a young child, during the past seven years Gene’s faith in God and his love of community grew through his involvement in AA. He was preceded in death by his grandson, Tristan Buhler on Jan. 29, 2013. Survivors include his wife, Lori, whom he married in 1971; his children: Marc (Corina) Buhler, Laurie (Mark) Gavranovic and Erin Buhler and fiance Nathan Karbon; two grandchildren; and siblings: David (Karen) Buhler, Joyce (Clifford) Penner, Janet Buhler Stone and Douglas (Linda) Buhler.  Back to top  Back to top  Back to top Weather sponsored by: