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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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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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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Compiled and written by David R. Schleper, 2025.

Janna Marlene Grassel Wood was born June 1, 1988 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, daughter of Vern Frederick Grassel and Tracy K. D’Andrea.

Janna joined the Shakopee Police Department as the first Crime Prevention Specialist in 2013.

According to an article in the Minneapolis Star Tribune on Feb. 16, 2017, Dee DePass noted that Janna was just in the job for six months when Halloween came around. Shakopee Chief Jeff Tate walked into the police station and stopped, shocked. Janna was dressed head to toe in costume.

“I’m Janna Banana. Deal with it,” she noted. Tate recalled Janna “spent the whole day waking around the police department dressed as a banana. She was always just fun. You always felt good when you were around her.”

According to the article, Janna dug in, teaching stoic officers that it was OK to post photos on Facebook so the community could see them playing softball, taking kids shopping, feeding the hungry, and running marathons. The outreach made officers more relatable.

Janna, who graduated in criminal justice from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, used social media and workshops to teach police and residents about background checks, internet safety, tax scams, anti-bullying campaigns and Shakopee’s Citizen Police Academy. For her efforts, she was named Minnesota’s Crime Prevention Specialist of the Year in 2014.

“Her excellent work was recognized far beyond Shakopee,” said Chief Tate. “She really did a lot to change how police across the state communicate with the public through social media. She left more of a legacy in four years than most people would do in decades.”

Janna loved movies, playing board games, and getting together with family and friends. “She did walks for animals, the Polar Plunge for Special Olympics, and events for the hungry,” said her mother.

When she was 28 years old, Janna was 13 weeks pregnant. She told her husband, Erick Robert Wood, that she really wanted to have a child. She had lost twins, Maven and Macie, who were stillborn at 18 weeks, and another child, Littlefoot, in another miscarriage that October, according to the article, “Police, Community Mourn” in the Shakopee Valley News by Pat Minelli. Janna had headaches, and an MRI revealed blood clots. On Feb. 5, 2017, Janna and her unborn baby, Zeus, died.

Every year, the Shakopee Police Department hosts a diaper drive in memory of Janna Marlene Grassel Wood. According to Janna’s mother, Tracy D’Andrea, “If everyone had a Janna, the world would be a kind, kind place to live.”

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Compiled and written by David R. Schleper, 2026.

Helen Agnes Huth was born March 30, 1895 in Shakopee. Her parents were George John Huth, Jr. (1861-1936) and Maria Catharina Kopp (1863-1944.) Her grandparents were George Huth (1823-1883) and Maria Anna Wing Weier (1829-1889); and John Johannes George Kopp, Sr. (1826-1905) and Anna Margaret Everling Kopp (1843-1920).

Helen grew up to charming womanhood, receiving her education at the St. Mark’s Parochial school and graduating from the local high school in 1917.

Helen began teaching immediately following her term at high school, spending five years in various schools of the county, winning many friends by her quiet unassuming demeanor.

Helen Agnes Huth was highly talented in music. For many years she was a pianist at the Gem Theater.

On June 12, 1922, Helen married Walter Casey and they moved to a house in Shakopee, next door to Helen’s parents.

In July 1924, Helen wasn’t feeling well.

Dr. P. M. Fischer was summoned, and when he saw the condition was serious, the doctor called Dr. Yoert of Minneapolis as consulting physician.

Helen seemed to rally in the afternoon, but her condition again became serious by 3 pm.

After only a few hours of illness, Helen Agnes Huth Casey passed away at 4 pm. The cause of death was an embolism due to thrombosis.

She died peacefully in the presence of those near and dear to her.

Her unexpected death caused widespread and profound sorrow and deepest sympathy, including her parents, Walter Casey, and their eight-day-old daughter, Mary Elizabeth Casey Oleson (1924-1989).

Funeral services were held at St. Mark’s Catholic Church, with Rev. M. Savs officiating.

Helen Agnes Huth Casey was buried at the Catholic Cemetery on Tenth Avenue in Shakopee.

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Compiled and written by David R. Schleper, 2026.

Grace Poon and her husband, Kwai, opened the Family Chow Mein Chinese Restaurant and Ice Cream Factory from 1982 to 1984 in Shakopee.

Grace and Kwai’s dream was to open a restaurant in Shakopee, featuring a wide selection of Cantonese, Peking, Shanghai, and Zechuen cooking styles.

When they arrived in Minnesota, Grace worked for ten years at Catholic Charities, as she got a degree and worked with people with disabilities.

While that was satisfying, she wanted a certain amount of independence, to be her own boss, and to run her own business.

There is a concept of Chinese philosophy of keeping everything in balance and to serve others.

“I have always liked to work with people and serve food,” Grace said. She used family recipes she learned as a child in Hong Kong. To insure consistent quality, Grace did all the cooking herself, refusing to let anyone else near her kitchen, according to article, “Stir-fry comes to Shakopee” in the Feb. 24, 1982 Shakopee Valley News.

“I shouldn’t say it, but I don’t trust other people to cook,” Grace explained. “People wait a little while, but it’s worth it for the quality.”

In an article, “Chinese restaurant relocates; gains viability, business,” in the July 25, 1984 Shakopee Valley News, the family decided to move from the Huber Building to 237 First Avenue, where they converted the vacant lot (it had been the Hennen Skelly Station) to Family Chow Mein Chinese Restaurant and Ice Cream Factory.

The Poons originally took over the space at the Huber Building that was The Sweet Treat Ice Cream Parlor. Because of the connection, and because people in Shakopee love ice cream, the family decided to continue to sell ice cream cones, sundaes, shakes and malts.

“The main items on their menu, however, are the Chinese dishes. There are appetizers like egg rolls and fried chicken wings, soups, chow mein, both American and Cantonese (Cantonese chow mein has soft noodles and is stir-fry cooking), chicken, pork, beef, sea goods, and egg foo young. Included on the menu are several American sandwiches, including hamburgers.”

“This is especially for the young people who come in here with their parents and are afraid to try the Chinese food,” said Grace.

Grace spent long hours at the restaurant, often working 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

On Sunday, well, sometimes Grace and Kwai and their two sons, Gary and Raymond rested. But usually, they cleaned the kitchen!

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Compiled and written by David R. Schleper, 2025.

The Greatest Generation is roughly defined as the generation of individuals who came of age during the Great Depression, many of whom went to fight in World War II. What many people might forget is that latter part also included women.

One of the greatest was Georgene Georgina Beckrich, the first member of the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) from Shakopee.

According to Lindsay Marshall, executive director of the Scott County Historical Society, in 1941, Edith Nourse Regers introduced the first bill establishing a women’s auxiliary unit. The unit would let women fill non-combat roles, in turn allowing more men to be available for combat responsibilities. On July 1, 1943 the women would attain military status. The Women’s Army Corps (WAC) replaced the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) ninety days later.

According to Marshall, Georgene (sometimes spelled Georgina), was born in 1917 to Mathias and Mary Marschall Beckrich. Mathias grew up on a farm in Eagle Creek Township, later worked as a plumber, a janitor at the church, and then the foreman engineer at the foundry. Mary was the fifth child born to Anthony and Catherine Marschall. The couple was married at St. Mark’s Catholic Church in Shakopee in October 1914 and began their married life in Eden Prairie before returning to Shakopee. Richard was born in 1916, with Georgene following the next year. Gilbert was born in 1919, Mildred followed in 1922, and the youngest sibling, Donald, was born in 1927.

According to the 1930 Federal Census, the family had moved to Eagle Creek Township and had begun farming. But by 1935 they were back in Shakopee living on Sixth Avenue West. In 1940, Georgene worked 65 hours per week doing housework. At this point she was 23 and attended school in Shakopee – graduating from St. Mark’s and attending Shakopee High School. According to Lindsay, “her sister, Mildred (who we will talk about in a moment) was 18 and had gone through two years of high school. At this point, she had received the most education of all of her siblings.

“Georgene enlisted in the Women’s Army Corps on Dec. 2, 1942 as an Aviation Cadet. The Shakopee Argus-Tribune noted that when Georgene was 25, she took her required entrance and medical exams at Fort Snelling the month prior. She would be sent to basic training at either Daytona Beach or Des Moines. She’s listed as standing 62 inches and weighing 157 pounds.” No more information was available about what she did during her time as a WAAC, but her service ended July 7, 1943 when she was a First-Class Specialist. The WAAC had a variety of fields including administration-related jobs, cooking, motor transportation, and communications.

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Compiled and written by David R. Schleper, 2025.

On Sept. 1, 1925, newspaper headlines in Minnesota included “Veteran Found Slain, Officials Hold Wife” “Veteran Stabbed to Death After Party” and “Man Stabbed to Death; Wife Held—Stocking in Childless Home in Clue.”

According to an article, “Was it Murder, Suicide, or an Accident?” by Lindsay Marshall, in the Scott County Historical Society Gazette, Vol. 4, No. 5, May 2025, Evelyn Maloney Geschwind, born in 1894, was held in the death of her husband, Frank Frederick Geschwind.

Frank was born Dec. 20, 1892 in Sleepy Eye to Peter Wilhelm Geschwind (1852-1938) and Amelia Margaret Piehl Geschwind (1859-1901). Frank’s father was a retail grocer, real estate agent, and postmaster, and a farmer

Peter and Amelia had ten children, with Frank being the eighth child, a twin with his brother, Peter. According to Marshall’s article, Frank was living in Detroit, Michigan working as a metal polisher at Federal Brass. “His military training was with the 247th Aero Squadron.” After a year in England, he flew with the 41st Squadron the remainder of his service before he returned to the Midwest, and in 1922 he joined his brother, Peter, Jr., in Minneapolis.

On Jan. 1, 1924, Frank married Evelyn Maloney in Minneapolis. Frank worked for a short time in Ironwood, Michigan before returning to Minnesota.

“The night prior, Frank and Evelyn Geschwind were drinking with a few friends at their apartment located a few blocks from where the U.S. Bank Stadium sits today. Newspapers reported a few variations on who contacted the police. Some stated that several neighbors heard a fight happening (loud voices, cursing, articles being thrown and finishing with a loud thud). Others stated that a specific neighbor, Mrs. Kenneth Lee, answered the door in the middle of the night to find Mrs. Geschwind on the other side. Either way, police arrived at the Geschwind apartment to find a blood-strained breadknife on the windowsill and Frank lying dead in the kitchen” said the article by Lindsay Marshall.

Evelyn Maloney Geschwind was charged worth murder in the first degree and taken in by police.

Evelyn was allowed to go to Frank’s funeral service accompanied by detectives. On Sept. 4, 1925, the Minneapolis Star reported, “Enroute she was asked buy an officer the nature of her husband’s religion. ‘He didn’t believe in anything,’ she said. ‘That is why I hated him. He didn’t believe in God or anything.’ But after a few moments she came to his defense. “But he was good to me, he never beat me. He never abused me. He was always kind. It was moonshine—moonshine. That was the trouble.’”

According to Marshall, “During the trial, other pieces of her past were exposed, including that prior to her marriage with Frank, Evelyn had a baby whom she deserted. William Geschwind, Frank’s brother, testified that the couple lived at William’s Niagara, WI home the previous year, in 1924. He saw Evelyn attempt to strike Frank with an axe during a quarrel. This story was corroborated by a neighbor, Mrs. Canavara. William bought said axe to the courtroom that day. He also saw Evelyn strike Frank with metal handle of a mop while he was working under his automobile.”

Dr. Folson of the University of Minnesota, who performed the post mortem examination, took the stand next. The physician testified that the knife entered Frank’s heart in an upward movement.

When asked by the prosecutor, “It would take a strong plunge to make a knife cut through the heart and into a rib, would it not?” Dr. Folson responded, “Yes.” When asked, “When anyone plunges a knife into one that knife usually takes a downward turn, doesn’t it?” Dr Palmer, again, responded, “Yes.”

“Frank’s twin, Peter, testified that on the night of Frank’s death, he had driven him home and had just returned to his own home when he received the phone call notifying him that Frank had been stabbed.”

The jury consisted of an even number of men and women. They were Caucasian (as they were the only allowed in the jury pool.). Then women had just allowed women to serve in the jury three years early.

Evelyn believed that with the women jury members, sympathy for the woman would help her case.

According to Marshall, “Judge Baldwin explained to the jury their duties as jurors as well as the difference between first-, second-, and third-degree murder, shall they decided the Evelyn was guilty. He noted that manslaughter did not figure into this case.”

Evelyn’s Sentencing and Life Afterwards

Evelyn was sentenced to a term of no less than seven and no more than thirty years at the Shakopee Women’s Reformatory. During the reading of her sentence, Evelyn reported showed little emotion. Judge Baldwin noted, “Any other person who did not have that background would probably had been acquitted in the fact off the evidence” [Duluth News, Nov. 5, 1925, p.8].

It took three-hours and 25 minutes for the jury to reach a verdict of murder in the third degree.

“Evelyn was sentenced to a term of no less than seven and no more than thirty years at the Shakopee Women’s Reformatory. During the reading of her sentence, Evelyn reported showed little emotion.” Judge Baldwin noted, “Any other person who did not have that background would probably had been acquitted in the fact off the evidence” [Duluth News, Nov. 5, 1925, p.8].

According to Marshall, “each quarter, the state board heard pleas and pardons from previously tried cases. The Star Tribune reported on July 8, 1928 that Evelyn Geschwind’s plea was among the 78 heard that quarter. She stated that she did kill her husband, but claimed it was in self-defense. According to the 1930 census, taken on April 26th, Evelyn was still housed at the reformatory. Her “occupation” on the census showed she was a seamstress. By 1940, Evelyn was no longer at the reformatory.

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Compiled and written by David R. Schleper, 2025

Chhenglim Pay was born July 5, 1940 in Poipet (Phnom Penh), Cambodia. She was the second oldest of four siblings, two brothers and two sisters.

Chhenglim married Kimhout Seng. They had nine children.

Poipet, Cambodia is located on the border with Thailand and is a significant border crossing point. Phnom Penh is the capital and largest city of Cambodia and also the political, economic, cultural, religious and transportation center of the country. Poipet is directly adjacent to Aranyaprathet in Thailand, forming the primary border crossing between the two countries. This border crossing is a key gateway for trade and travel between the two countries.

Poipet’s history includes being a key location during the Cambodian civil war and a center for international relief efforts. Chhenglim and her family survived the Khmer Rouge, a Cambodian genocide that took place from1975 to 1979.

The fate of Cambodia shocked the world when the radical communist political party Khmer Rouge, under their leader Pol Pot, seized power in April 1975 after years of guerrilla warfare, according to the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust website.

The Khmer Rouge ruthlessly imposed an extremist program to reconstruct Cambodia (under its Khmer name Kampuchea) on the communist model of Mao’s China. They aimed to remove social classes and Western influences from the country.

The population was made to work as laborers in one huge federation of collective farms. The inhabitants of towns and cities were forced to leave. No-one was spared: the ill, disabled, old, and very young were also driven out, regardless of their physical condition. People who refused to leave, those who did not leave fast enough, and those who would not obey orders were all murdered.

All political and civil rights were abolished. Children were taken from their parents and placed in separate forced-labor camps. Factories, schools, universities, and hospitals were shut down. Lawyers, doctors, teachers, engineers, scientists and professional people in any field were murdered, together with their extended families. It was possible for people to be shot simply for knowing a foreign language, wearing glasses, laughing, or crying.

It is estimated that well over two million people were murdered during this period, from execution, disease, exhaustion, and starvation.

Chhenglim came to the United States on May 22, 2002. While living in Minnesota, Chhenglim gained citizenship and became an official Cambodian-American.

Chhenglim was a kind and loving person who enjoyed cooking and spending time with her family. Her family and friends favored her cooking and were well fed by her. An avid gardener, she used vegetables she grew for the food she cooked.

Chhenglim loved walking, and would visit her neighbors. Neighbors said she had a friendly nature, and she always smiled and waved She was also a member and supporter of the Watt Munisotaram Cambodian Temple. She spent many afternoons there. The Watt Munisotaram is a Cambodian Buddhist temple in Hampton, Minnesota, about thirty minutes south of the Twin Cities.

Before Chhenglim Pay moved to St. Gertrude’s and the Gardens in Shakopee, she lived in Savage with her youngest daughter’s family. Chhenglim was a daughter, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother.

Chhenglim Pay had a history of type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes means the body cannot use insulin properly. Without treatment, type 2 diabetes can cause various health problems, like heart disease, kidney disease, and stroke. For Chhenglim it caused kidney failure. She spent years on dialysis. Dialysis was often necessary when kidney function declines significantly. Individuals with type 2 diabetes who develop end-stage kidney disease require dialysis or a kidney transplant to survive.

High blood sugar levels over time damaged Chhenglim’s tiny blood vessels in the kidneys, impairing filtering ability.

As diabetic nephropathy progresses, the kidneys may become unable to filter waste and excess fluid, leading to kidney failure, which is what happened with Chhenglim Pay.

Chhenglim died at the Benedictine Living Community-Shakopee at St. Gertrude’s and the Gardens. It is located at St. Francis Regional Medical Center at 1850 Sarazin Street in Shakopee.

Chhenglim Pay was survived by her three daughters, five sons, twenty-five grandchildren, and eighteen great grandchildren.

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Compiled and written by David R. Schleper, 2025

Chelsea M. Henderson was born Feb. 25, 1994, in Corpus Christi, Texas, the daughter of Stalin Henderson and Pamela Brooks Henderson.

She was in employed in sales and an account manager at Stauer in Burnsville. Chelsea was very good at her job, and was very proud of receiving recognition for her top sales with the company.

Chelsea loved music and singing and was a pet lover. When she was younger she had the nickname “Black-Thunder” from her gymnastics family. Chelsea was a spiritual leader, and was a daddy’s girl when she was little, and turned into a momma’s girl when she grew older. She loved her family very much, especially all her nieces and nephews.

Her sister, Ashley, noted, “I was blessed to have Chelsea in my life as a little sister. When I think of her, I see the little girl I met with braces, a ribbon in her hair and a small LV purse.

Chelsea was beautiful and intelligent like her mother and creative and laid back like her daddy; a truly perfect mixture of her parents.”

Ashley said, “She was a wonderful aunt to her nieces and nephews. They knew they called Aunt Chelsea, shows going to make its happen…even if she was living across the country.”

Ashley and her brother, Sabastian Henderson noted that she was a supportive, understanding, and loving sister. As Ashley recalled, “As with all sisters, we had a few disagreements but they were nothing in comparison to the countless good memories.”

The Wabasha Brewer King family noted, “Chelsea will always be remembered as a kind-hearted soul.”

Another friend remembered Chelsea having “such an infectious positive outlook on life and a drive to be successful. I learned so much from her during our training about being a consummate professional and successful employee. Her light will always brighten by day when I think back to how much of a difference she made in my life.”

Chelsea M. Henderson, age 30 of Shakopee, passed away on Saturday, May 18, 2024 at her home, according to McNearney-Schmidt Funeral and Cremation in Shakopee.

Survivors include her mother and step-father, Pam and Kenny Bauer; siblings, Christopher Henderson, Savannah Moore, Sabastian (Ashley) Henderson, and Hailie Ward; nephews and nieces, Kamryn Moore, Kaylie Hannah, Cassi Henderson, Sabastian Henderson, Jr., Anthony Henderson; uncles, aunts, and other relatives. She was preceded in death by her father, Stalin Henderson.

Sabastian Henderson, Chelsea’s older brother, loved being around. “I know you are going to be the angel to us as you always been. Fly high, baby girl. Watch over us all.”

Chelsea Henderson’s great-great-great-great-grandmother, Morning Mourning Primas Bryan Iverson (1805-1899), was enslaved by the Bryan family, according to “Slavery and the Bryan Family” on the Moments in Time blog.

The Bryan Log Cabin in Bienville Parish was a two-room dogtrot (on page 59 of Louisiana Plantation Homesby W. Darrell Overdyke). In addition to seeing the cabin in this book, a sketch and description can be found in the research paper “Log Houses as Public Occasions: A Historical Theory,” written in 1977. The Bryan Log Cabin was the home of Reddick and Elizabeth Regan Bryan, built after moving to Louisiana from Georgia in the 1830s. The Bryan plantation, owned by Joseph Bryan, a slave dealer in Savannah, Georgia, was the location of a large slave auction in March 1859, where over 400 enslaved people were sold, with the goal of being moved to Louisiana, according to the National Park Service.

Today’s plantation landscape reflects the nation’s reluctance to confront the true history of slavery and its legacy of racial injustice. Amy Potter says telling the truth about this history is a moral imperative, especially now, when there is a movement across the country to limit the teaching of our history.

A “plantation edutainment complex” has emerged, according to a 2018 National Science Foundation-funded study of 15 plantations in Virginia, South Carolina, and Louisiana. Commercialized plantation sites tout luxury inns, Halloween ghost tours, wine and bourbon tastings, strawberry festivals, and plantation weddings. The owner of one site transformed a Louisiana sugar cane plantation, where 800 Black people were enslaved, into what he calls a “Disneyland for adults.” All the entertainment undercuts efforts to tell truthful history.

And so in this brochure, the Shakopee Heritage Society mourned the lost of Chelsea M. Henderson (1994-2024) and her relatives, including Morning Mourning Primas Bryan Iverson (1805-1899).

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