Category Archives: People

Yu Heng (Dragon Cafe Chinese Restaurant, in Shakopee since 1986)

Compiled and written by David R. Schleper, 2026.

Yu Heng and Yu Jie Chen, along with their mom, two aunts, and nine children under 11 years old immigrated to America in 1982.

The family had been living in the peaceful village of Kinglam, Onfen, Guangdong, China, where 200 people called home, according to an article by Yu Jie Chen called “Family of 10” from #minneasianstories. Yu Jie Chen’s older sister is Yu Heng.

Yu Jie Chen remembered the story. “I was told to get into a minivan, and all of the kids and moms got in a vehicle and off we left the village where everyone knew everyone’s name and everyone are very much alike.”

According to Yu Jie Chen, on the way to America they stayed temporarily with friends and relatives in Guangzhou and Hong Kong.

“When we arrived in the cold Minnesota, at the age of nine I met my grandpa for the first time,” said Yu Jie Chen. “None of us knew any English. We brought with us what we could carry in a few suitcases, with little money. We came to a place where we did not know the people, the food, the environment, and the culture.

“My family and my uncle’s family rented this very old house in Minneapolis. Each family had one bedroom and we shared a small kitchen that fit a table and some chairs. Eleven people crowded into this kitchen to eat. Two families shared one car,” said Yu Jie Chen.

“My parents kept on telling us kids that we need to learn English and do well in school.

“My parents and grandparents never had the opportunity to attend high school or higher level education in rural Guangdong, China. My parents wanted their kids to have the opportunity to go to college.”

And the children and grandchildren did!

“My parents worked very long hours working at Chinese restaurants.”

Yu Jie Chen worked part-time at a Chinese take-out restaurant. “In the evening when the restaurant closed, my mom and I walked six blocks in the dark to where my dad worked as a chef so we could get a ride home. Sometimes when my dad had to work near midnight to clean the kitchen hood, my mom and I took two buses home….

“Eight years later after our arrival to Minnesota, my family was very excited to purchase a Chinese restaurant in Shakopee! My father went from being a bookkeeper and mom, a farmer in China to chefs in the United States and then restaurant business owners. That was their dream.

“My parents later sold their successful restaurant business to my older sister and retired.”

Yu Heng took over after her parents retired. When she retired, other relatives continued the tradition, including Alex, who graduated Shakopee High School.

And so the family, all three generations, have worked at the Dragon Cafe Chinese Restaurant here in Shakopee!

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Soeun Ouch (1933-2021)

Compiled and written by David R. Schleper, 2026.

During the Vietnam War (1955-1975), civil war erupted in Cambodia in 1967 between communist and democratic forces. On April 17, 1975, the Khmer Rouge entered Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, and declared victory. This resulted in the deaths of almost 2 million people and became known as the Cambodian Genocide. In addition, it led to a mass exodus as an estimated 150,000 Cambodians fled to the United States as refugees between 1975 and 1994. Soeun Ouch emigrated from Cambodia after the Khmer Rouge, and arrived in the United States in August 1985.

On one side of the Cambodian civil war was the Khmer Republic led by Lon Nol (1913-1985) which was backed by the United States and South Vietnam. On the other side was the communist Khmer Rouge led by Pol Pot (1925-1928) (previously known as Saloth Sar) which was backed by North Vietnam.

Years of fighting ensued, including intense bombing of Cambodia by the United States. Because Cambodia was officially a neutral country, the United States kept these bombings a secret from Congress and the public. The U.S. military dropped 540,000 tons of bombs on Cambodia, killing somewhere between 150,000 to 500,000 civilians. Some scholars believe that these bombings played a significant role in the rise of the Khmer Rouge by driving Vietnamese communist forces deeper into Cambodia and allowing them to provide military support to the Khmer Rouge. In addition, the Khmer Rouge gained support among rural Cambodians by pointing to the death and devastation caused by the bombings.

On April 17, 1975, the Khmer Rouge entered Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, and declared victory. They set up a new government that ultimately ruled Cambodia from April 1975 to January 1979. This regime was characterized by totalitarianism and brutality. Not long after declaring victory, they executed former military and government officials. They got rid of institutions such as markets, banks, schools, Western medicine, and Buddhism. They also abolished money and private property.

The Khmer Rouge turned Cambodia into a forced labor camp, seeking to create a rural agricultural society isolated from the rest of the world. People were forced to work on the farms for long hours under brutal conditions. Many died from exhaustion, starvation, or disease.

The United States was reluctant to accept Cambodian refugees as it was still managing the resettlement of Vietnamese, Hmong, and Lao refugees. But as international attention to the atrocities in Cambodia grew, the United States began to admit more Cambodians into the country. The 1980 Refugee Act raised the annual ceiling for refugees from 17,400 to 50,000. It also changed the definition of “refugee” to a person with “well-founded fear of persecution.”

The U.S. Cambodian Refugee program ended in 1994, at which point a total of about 150,000 refugees had been admitted. Refugees were dispersed into different cities across the country.  Rebuilding in the United States has not been easy. Many Cambodian refugees live with deep trauma from the devastation of their homeland, loss of family members, multiple displacements, and poor conditions in refugee camps.

They have built a tight-knit and thriving community, starting small businesses, launching churches, temples and arts groups, bringing new foods to Minnesota, and creating space for their families to thrive.

About 12,000 Cambodians live in Minnesota today, mostly in and around the Twin Cities, including Shakopee, according to the most recent data. The community has built one of the largest Buddhist temples in the country, the Watt Munisotaram near Farmington, which draws hundreds of community members for ceremonies and celebrations several times a year, according to Sahan Journal.

“They [U.S.-born Cambodians] probably don’t have as much education and knowledge about Cambodian culture, traditions and Buddhism — but their parents try really hard to educate them and bring them to the temple,” Iddhimuni Moeng Sang, abbott in charge of the Watt Munisotaram, said through a translator.

Cambodians are the seventh-largest refugee population in the state. Minnesota is home to a larger percentage of refugee immigrants than other states, with 25 to 50 percent of the state’s immigrants coming as refugees compared to the national average of eight percent. Minnesota, along with California, Massachusetts, Washington, and Texas, has one of the country’s largest Cambodian populations, according to Carleton College’s Religions in Minnesota.

Soeun Ouch dedicated her life to providing for her family. Her warmth, thoughtfulness, and compassion were evident in every interaction and relationship she found. Fifty years ago, she found the love of her life, and together, Soeun and San Pao (1928-2015) showed those around them the true definition of partnership, devotion, and commitment.

At age 88, Soeun Ouch died on March 3, 2021, and was buried next to her husband, San Pao, at Valley Cemetery in Shakopee.

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Pte San Tokeya Wiŋ
 Leading Fawn Woman Brisa Edna Chase Ortiz (1998-2025)

Compiled and written by David R. Schleper, 2026.

Pte San Tokeya Wiŋ Leading Fawn Woman Brisa Edna Chase was born May 9, 1998 to HolyElk Lafferty and Jesse Chase.

Through her maternal side, she is Oglala and MniCoujou Lakota and on her paternal side, she is Shakopee Mdewakanton Dakota.

When she was born she was brought by her family to a ceremony in which they asked the spirits to name her. Her Unci Edna Two Dogs blessed her with the name Pte San Tokeya Win, “Leading Fawn Woman”, a name that she had carried throughout her life.

As a baby, she was the joy of her family’s lives and as she grew into each stage of her life, she was kind and generous in her love for her family while also being fierce in the way she loved them. From day one, she was her Unci Bernie’s girl. They shared a special love that knows no bounds or limits in this lifetime or beyond. So much of the teachings and strengths she carried in this life as a woman and mother were given to her through this bond.

As a young woman Brisa became a mother to three beautiful children and a wife to their father, Carlos Ortiz. She had always been strong-willed, determined, and loyal to her personal beliefs about what she wanted for herself and for those she loved in this life. Those qualities carried forth into motherhood and womanhood as she loved and cared for her children and family.

She was born with the type of maternal love in her bones that not many can learn in whole lifetimes spent attempting to acquire it and she poured that deeply into the cups of those who were privileged enough to know her at the depths of her heart. She had a laugh and sense of humor that was contagious and made your soul feel good to be sharing in the moments when she made something funny, which was often. Her smile and the sparkle in her eyes lit up every space in this world that she chose to share it.

Pte San Tokeya Wiŋ Leading Fawn Woman Brisa Edna Chase Ortiz began her journey home on Aug. 3, 2025, and is survived by many, as she journeyed at such a tender age. She will be met by her relatives in the spirit world who will hold her with love, care and gentleness.

To be loved by Brisa Edna was to be blessed in the most beautiful way and the medicine that her love was, will continue to be her gift to us all.

Damon and Mahpiya Brewer-Knight noted, “Love you Brisa, fly high. Prayers and tobacco down for the family in their healing.”

Hillary Crooks and family noted, “My heart aches for your loss. A life so young, gone far too soon. I’m holding your family in my thoughts and prayers.”

Aubrey said, “Heart felt condolences. We love you all so

much. Many hugs and prayers to the Lafferty/Ortiz Families.”

Funeral service was at the Tiowakan Spiritual Center on Aug. 8, 2025. Pte San Tokeya Wiŋ Leading Fawn Woman Brisa Edna Chase Ortiz was buried at the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community Center in Prior Lake, Minnesota.

Loretta Zacharias noted, “Sincere Condolences to Brisa’s family and friends. She will be forever in your family’s hearts and thoughts.”

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Patty Feltmann Bye and the Ketterer Fire (1957)

Compiled and written by David R. Schleper, 2025.

Patty Feltmann Bye was five years old. She lived in one of the eight apartments upstairs in the Ketterer Building on the corner of First and Lewis Street.

Patty’s sister, Sherry, age seven, and Patty were playing house in the hallway while Mrs. Anderson babysat them, according to the Shakopee Valley News, Sept. 12, 1957 article, “Fire Destroys Commander Apartments Building Saturday;” the Shakopee Argus-Tribune, Sept. 12, 1957 “Fire Hits Shakopee Business District;” the Shakopee Valley News, September 1957 “Shakopee Fire Destroys Feltmanns’ Household Furnishings;” and David R. Schleper Interview with Patty Feltmann Bye on March 5, 2025.

Patty and Sherry’s father, Clarence “Pidge” Feltmann, was working at the Effertz Buick garage, and her mother, Elizabeth Mary Betty Miller Feltmann was on the way to a ball game in Cold Spring with her brother, Lawrence Miller, who also lived at the apartment house next door with his uncle, Reinhold Miller.

A man came down the smokey hall with a flashlight yelling, “Fire! Fire! Get out!”

“I remember being worried that my dad may have been napping in the apartment during his lunch hour,” said Patty. Though Pidge was not there, the thought of her father, Pidge, being in the fire was in her mind when the man told them to get out.

The Ketterer building was on the northwest corner of First Avenue and Lewis Street, and was built in 1899.

It was damaged by fire on Saturday, Sept. 7, 1957 at 11:25 a.m.

According to Patty, “My sister was also worried and wanted to go back inside for her favorite bridal doll!”

The fire gutted the second floor of the building.

Firefighters from Shakopee and six other neighboring communities fought the fire for three hours.

Luckily, Pidge was out demonstrating a car when he heard the news, and he rushed back to the apartment to rescue the children, who were being taken care of by their neighbor, who was also in another Commander apartment building on the second floor of the Ketterer building.

Patty’s mother heard of the news on the radio in the car just as they arrived in Cold Spring for the baseball game, and she called to see the two girls were safe. Then she hurriedly returned home to Shakopee.

The fire damage was estimated at $80,000, including, it seems, the bridal doll.

The fire reportedly broke out in one of the upstairs apartments when a water heater exploded. The contents of the Shakopee Cafe, Coast to Coast Store, and McMurray’s Variety were ruined by smoke and water damage.

But all of the families were saved!

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Muno, A New Generation of Activists, Shakopee High School (2026)

Compiled and written by David R. Schleper, 2026.

In an article in the Minnesota Star Tribune on Feb. 1, 2026, “How ICE Crackdowns Are Moving Some MN Teens to Action,” Laura Yuen interviews several students, including Muno, a student at Shakopee High School.

Like many other students, Muno, age 18, asked Yuen to hold her last name because of fear of retaliation. Some of her fellow students had death threats during a school walkout, and Muno did not want to have her last name in the paper.

According to Yuen, Muno shared three stories she couldn’t shake from her mind during Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota over the last three months, the Immigration and Custom Enforcement agents immigration enforcement.

Then Muno craved carne asada. In West St. Paul, she pulled up to a taco shop. She saw a Latino boy, about her age, sizing her up from the store wood. “He apparently is the store’s makeshift security guide, there to prevent ICE agents from entering. He unlocks the door to let Muno in and quickly locks it after her.”

According to Yuen, lots of stories allege ICE is racially profiling residents, but Yuen was told by Muno that there is not enough about how the current climate of fear forces people of color to profile strangers back. “Even a teenager is open to make a split-second calculations, rooted in bias, to protect their family and their livelihood.”

So Muno tells the boy, “I’m sorry you have to do this, all day and every day,” then breaks down in her car and cries.

Later, Muno is going to her friend’s house, where she and several girls planned to bake cinnamon rolls and post selfies on TikTok in their matching pajamas. “Then her friend sends a warning to the group chat: ICE agents just detained a construction worker in her neighborhood.”

According to Yuen, “It’s the juxtapositions of frivolity and fear that fills Muno’s day-to-day life.” According to Muno, “I don’t want to stop being happy. I don’t want that normalcy being taken away.

But it’s so hard. You just can’t look away.”

Muno visited the memorial for Renée Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother of three and poet, who was fatally shot by an ICE agent on Jan. 7, 2026, in Minneapolis, during Operation Metro Surge. The shooting, ruled a homicide, occurred as she observed federal immigration activity from her car, sparking national protests and a federal investigation.

“Muno sets down her flowers and her signs and pays her respects. Out of nowhere, a random Somali auntie reminds her to zip up her jacket and hands Muno a hot cup of tea. An older white man offers Muno food. This is the Minnesota she knows, the place that reared her and continues to protect its youth.”

“She said immigrants and their children won’t stop enduring or giving back to the state,” according to Yuen in the article about Muno.

“Yes, ICE is still happening, but I still have dinner plans Friday. I still have band practice. I’m still going to college. I’m still making my parents proud.”

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Mary Margaret Sarazin Monnens (1860-1930)

Compiled and written by David R. Schleper, 2026.

Mary Margaret Sarazin was born in Henderson, Minnesota on March 15, 1860, daughter of Jean Francois Sarazin (1827-1860) and Elizabeth Bender Sarazin Hein Fabel (1831-1902). Grandparents were Jean Nicolas Sarazin (1790-1852) and Anne Marie Tissieres (1795-1845); and Franciscus Mathias Bender (1804-1853), who died at sea on the way to America with his three children, and Catherina Jungels (1799-1847).

When she was three years old, Mary Margaret and her parents moved to Chanhassen, where she spent her girlhood days.

Mary Margaret Sarazin married Joannes Cornelius Monnens (often recorded as John Cornell Monnens) (1855-1926), an immigrant from Limburg, Netherlands, at Chanhassen. Joannes’s parents were Johannes John Gerhard Jan Monnens (1827-1887) and Marie Catherine Solberg Monnens (1810-1867); and grandparents were Joannes Jan Willem Monnens (1793-1858) and Gertrud Elisabeth Dieters Monnens (1786-1866); and Joannes Jacob Solberg (1781-1867) and Elisabeth Custers Solberg (1779-1827). John Cornelius came to America in 1867 with his father.

Mary and Joannes moved to a farm near Marystown, Minnesota in 1882, and they resided there. Mary was a thirsty, industrious woman, very interested in her home and home affairs. She was a loving mother and a kind friend.

Mary and John had 13 children: Maria Elizabeth Lizzie (1879-1951); Mary Catherine (1881-1900); Frank Jacob (1883-1897); Anna Katherine Katie (1886-1961); Cecelia Louise (1888-1969); John Bernard (1890-1891); Paul John (1892-1961); Harry Gerhard (1894-1951); Adolph Joseph (1896-1969); William Francis Frank (1897-1976); Lawrence Henry (1900-1980); John Frederick (1902-1958); and Walter Dominic Monnens (1904-1969).

Mary Margaret’s husband, John, died without warning on June 5, 1926 at their home, which was located about three miles south of Shakopee. John was in town and returned that afternoon feeling fine. A few minutes before he died, John walked toward the lake shore with two men who had come to hire a boat for fishing. While standing not far from the home they laughed and talked with them when he suddenly wavered and would have fallen if the two men hadn’t supported him. They brought him to the house, and as they arrived he had a heart attack and died.

John Cornelius Monnens’s burial happened at St. Mary’s church in Marystown on June 8, with the Rev. James Klein officiating, and then was buried at the cemetery near the church.

Mary Margaret Sarazin Monnens had a stroke of paralysis in 1928, but she recovered from its effects. Two years later, in 1930, she was stricken again, and her death followed one day later.

The funeral was held from St. Mary of the Purification Catholic Church in Marystown. It was one of the largest funerals held there for a long time. It was attended by neighbors and many friends. Rev. Father Klein was the officiator, and the pallbearers were six grandsons, Raymond and Paul Geis, Roman and Clarence Luce, Sylvester Scherer, and George Graff.

Mary was survived by four daughters and and seven sons, along with her full sister, along with one half-sister and two half-brothers.

The deceased with a member of the Christian Mothers Society of Marystown, who attended the funeral as a body. Mary Margaret Sarazin Monnens was buried at the cemetery next to the church.

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Mary Carcamo (1964-2023, In Shakopee since 1997)

Compiled and written by David R. Schleper, 2025.

Mary Carcamo was born in Catcamas, Honduras on Dec. 30, 1964. The Republic of Honduras is a country in Central America, bordered to the west by Guatemala, to the southwest by El Salvador, to the southeast by Nicaragua, to the south by the Pacific Ocean at the Gulf of Fonseca, and to the north by the Gulf of Honduras, a large inlet of the Caribbean Sea. Its capital and largest city is Tegucigalpa, according to Wikipedia.

Honduras was home to several important Mesoamerican cultures, most notably the Maya, before Spanish colonization in the sixteenth century. The Spanish introduced Catholicism and the now predominant Spanish language, along with numerous customs that have blended with the indigenous culture.

Honduras became independent in 1821 and has since been a republic, although it has consistently endured much social strife and political instability, and remains one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere.

The nation’s economy is primarily agricultural, making it especially vulnerable to natural disasters. In the Republic of Honduras, 73% of the country’s population lived in poverty and 53% lived in extreme poverty. The lower class is primarily agriculturally based while wealth is concentrated in the country’s urban centers. The country is one of the most economically unequal in Latin America.

Honduran society is predominantly Mestizo; however, there are also significant Indigenous, black, and white communities in Honduras. Honduras is known for its rich natural resources, including minerals, coffee, tropical fruit, and sugar cane, as well as for its growing textiles industry, which serves the international market.

Mary Carcamo lived in Catcamas, Honduras. The city is situated northeast of Tegucigalpa. Catacamas has historically been characterized by the hospitality, resilience, and progressive spirit of its people, as well as its rich natural setting which is suitable for both agricultural and forest production.

The North White Stone Mountain, part of Agalta Mountains National Park, is located near the city. Catacamas is home to a variety of botanical species such as conifers, broadleaf plants, and some eighty varieties of orchids, as well as a rich fauna, including wild cats and the quetzal.

Catacamas is a city with a population of 63,310. It is the largest municipality in Central America in terms of area.

In 1997, Mary eventually moved to Minnesota, settling in Shakopee.

Mary was a caring mother, sister, and friend to all. She made sure to always take care of the ones she loved most. She enjoyed playing board games, cooking together, and spending time outdoors. She especially liked watching her children play soccer.

Mary enjoyed hosting large gatherings of family and friends whenever she could, regardless of her health. The most defining characteristic of Mary was that she was always happy. No matter what, she could always be found smiling or laughing, especially when surrounded by the ones she loved.

At age 58, Mary Carcamo passed away on September 29, 2023. After her service, Mary was buried at Valley Cemetery in Shakopee.

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Maricruz (In Minnesota since 2000)

Compiled and written by David R. Schleper, 2026.

According to The Minnesota Star Tribune, Feb. 6, 2026, “It doesn’t ever really leave my mind; Minnesotans talk about winter weeks spent in the shadows of a juggernaut ICE operation” by Laura Yeun, on page A4, Maricruz, a mother, made tortillas while keeping one eye on her phone, which streamed video footage from the front door. She was always watching for ICE.

“In the entryway off a cramped two-bedroom house, a pair of pink backpacks idled on coat hooks.” The two girls have not been in school in weeks,” according to Laura Yeun. Their daughters are United States citizens, but their parents, Fermin and Maricruz, were born in Mexico, and have been living in Minnesota for 27 years.

“Maricruz and her husband, Fermin, have hardly left home since December. Their daughters know not to open the door. While classmates learned math, the girls huddled under a blanket, watching YouTube videos.”

Maricruz and Fermin asked Laura to use their first name only, fearing they could be deported like other immigrants—even though they’re authorized to be in the United States.

“Their daughters are U.S. citizens, but Maricruz worries agents could use the girls to lure her and her husband outside.”

“Teachers, neighbors, and strangers routinely drop groceries and puzzles on the family’s doorstep.” They live in a suburban cul-de-sac in Shakopee. “But the blinds are drawn, towels and blankets draped over the windows.”

“Fermin, who’s lived in Minnesota for 26 years, longs to return to work, but the family passes time by playing cards—and praying the rosary. They pray for Renée Good and Alex Pretti.”

“As his daughter asked God to watch over friends, teachers, and her bus driver, Fermin tried to stifle his tears; ‘It is sad because I thought in this country, they would have a better life.’”

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Lorrie Lee Freund Hinkle (1956-2018)

Compiled and written by David R. Schleper, 2025.

John William and Patricia Ann Ryan Freund were blessed with a beautiful baby girl, Lorrie Lee, born Jan. 25, 1956, in Minneapolis. She would be the second of four children, joining Linn, Jerry, and Jack.

Lorrie was a happy baby. Yet, her parents knew Lorrie’s life was going to be filled with countless trials and tribulations, for she was born with no arms. Yet, throughout her life this challenge made her stronger, independent, and she never considered herself disabled, according to the obituary at Ballard-Sunder Funeral and Cremation.

Patricia took Thalodomide, a drug that was developed in the 1950s. It was used as as a sedative, to treat sleeping problems and anxiety. Its use in pregnant women in 46 countries resulted in the “biggest man‐made medical disaster ever.” More than 10,000 children were born with severe deformities, as well as thousands of miscarriages, according to L. Bren on Feb. 28, 2001, “Frances Oldham Kelsey: FDA Medical Reviewer Leaves Her Mark on History.” FDA Consumer. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. A common condition was that hands or feet were directly attached to the body, with all or part of the arm or leg missing. This condition is known as phocomelia.

Thalidomide was introduced in 1956. The German pharmaceutical company Grünenthal marketed it as a medication for anxiety, trouble sleeping, “tension,” and morning sickness. When it was introduced, it had not been tested on pregnant women. At first, people thought it was safe in pregnancy. The first concerns regarding birth defects were noted in 1961, and the drug was removed from the market in Europe that year.

Thalidomide was developed and first released by the German pharmaceutical company Chemie Grünenthal in 1953. The company had started as a soap maker after World War II to address the urgent market need for antibiotics. Chemist Heinrich Mückter, who was a known Nazi war criminal, was appointed to head the discovery program based on his experience researching and producing an anti-typhus vaccine for Nazi Germany, according to Wikipedia.

It is estimated that more than 10,000 people were affected by their mothers using thalidomide during their pregnancy. About 40% of the children died at birth or shortly afterwards. Those who survived had limb, eye, urinary tract, and heart defects.

The severity and location of the deformities depended on how many days into the pregnancy the mother was before beginning treatment; thalidomide taken on the 20th day of pregnancy caused central brain damage, day 21 would damage the eyes, day 22 the ears and face, day 24 the arms (like Lorrie Lee Freund Hinkle), and leg damage would occur if taken up to day 28. Thalidomide did not damage the fetus if taken after 42 days’ gestation.

In 1958, Lorrie’s family moved to Shakopee, where she loved to follow in her dad’s shadow. Lorrie loved to attend and watch his baseball games, follow behind on the golf course and began a lifelong love for sports. Lorrie didn’t have the traditional childhood. She was eventually fitted with artificial arms. Lorrie enjoyed attending camps at the Courage Center, where she never felt judged.

Lorrie attended Marshall High School in Minneapolis (a school for physical needs students) and later graduated in 1975. Lorrie furthered her education at Hennepin Vo-Tech. She took this knowledge and committed the next 42 years as a phone operator for First Bank, now known as US Bank.

Through mutual friends, Lorrie’s life was enriched by meeting Grindle Dean Hinkle, Jr. They were perfect for each other!

On April 30, 1994 at St. John Evangelical Lutheran, Shakopee, Lorrie and Grindle wedded. They each brought special qualities to the marriage, which made it the perfect union. Lorrie and Grindle always surrounded themselves with family, which were priceless moments in their lives. They both shared a love for animals of all sorts; cats, dogs, fish, birds, and especially the love for Griffin, her service dog.

Lorrie lived life to the fullest. She was a true inspiration to those she met, especially people with physical needs. There was nothing Lorrie couldn’t seem to conquer, with the exception of cooking. She was an amazing artist, earned a red belt with a black stripe in karate, and was a meticulous housekeeper. Lorrie loved to attend adult Courage Center camps and even enjoyed playing floor hockey for many years. She loved swimming, reading murder mysteries, and taking walks.

A true heart of gold, Lorrie’s generosity and unconditional love was felt by many. She was a very strong and independent woman, who wanted to make it on her own. She had a great sense of humor and even had a mischievous side to her, especially when it came to her siblings.

The amazing life of Lorrie Freund Hinkle was suddenly and unexpected taken away from her beloved family, from an infection, on Thursday afternoon, April 12, 2018, at St. Francis Regional Medical Center, Shakopee, MN. She was only 62 years old and was a long-time resident of the Shakopee Community.

Pastor Gary Kinkel from St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church in Shakopee presided, with Lorrie’s nieces and nephews as urn bearers. She was laid to rest by her parents at Pleasant View Memorial Garden in Burnsville.

According to Mark Sebald, “Spent many a day in that home with you guys. Lori was always the spark that lit the fire….. She’ll be missed by all!”

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Lorraine Imelda Libby Coller (1913-2009)

Compiled and written by David R. Schleper, 2026.

Lorraine Imelda Libby was born May 30, 1913 in St. Paul, daughter of Cyrille Edward Libby (1883-1978) and Bertha May Thompson Libby (1885-1968). Her grandparents were Cyrus Edward Libby, who was born in Maine around 1858 and died in 1890 in Maine) and Jennie Brouder (1860-1891); and Bertram P. Thompson (1854-1936) and Maria Viola Jenkins Thompson (1854-1937).

She attended St. Margaret’s Academy and later Durham Hall.

Lorraine graduated from St Catherine’s College with degrees in English and Art.

She earned her teaching degree later in life at Mankato State University. She taught many years as an elementary teacher and later as an art teacher.

Lorraine Imelda Libby married Julius A. Coller II on Nov. 24, 1938 at St. Mark’s Catholic Church in Shakopee. They moved to their home at 434 Lewis Street South in Shakopee.

According to Lindsay Marshall, executive director of the Scott County Historical Society, Lorraine never took an art class through her education, but found her natural talent in many forms, with a strong religious influence. “In 1947, while home battling a severe ear infection, Lorraine’s father gave her a large tablet and a set of charcoals. Despite having no formal training, her drawing had forms, proportion, and balance.”

Lorraine’s passion for art found many forms throughout the years in her clay, stone, and wood sculptures, oil and watercolor paintings, and charcoal drawings.

She designed the cover and the illustrations for The Shakopee Story and St. Mark’s Centennial, both books written by her husband, Julius.

In 1956, she returned to St Catherine’s College in St. Paul to take classes in art and art history.

Lorraine Imelda Libby Coller taught schools in Shakopee, Savage, and Chaska, along with adult education classes around the Twin Cities.

Her religious commitment was highlighted in her creation of vestments, chalices, sculptures, paintings, and life-sized religious snow sculptures.

On March 1, 2009. Lorraine passed away at the age of 96, peacefully in the arms of her family.

She is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Julius A Coller II.

Lorraine was survived by her children Fred (JoAnn) Coller, Jed (Kathy) Coller, Lorraine (Michael) Boyle, CeCe (Ralph) Arrigoni, 13 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren.

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