Ron Trandahl > daughter 09.26.2020

   Rachel Rae Trandahl passed away on September 26, 2020, at her home in Alexandria. She was generous and loving and was always the first to offer help to others. With a contagious laugh, goofy sense of humor, and a great listening ear, she touched many people.

Born May 15, 1983, in Willmar, Minnesota to Ronald and Camille (Hanson) Trandahl, she was baptized in Paynesville, and grew up in Alexandria. Rachel was confirmed at Calvary Lutheran Church and graduated from Jefferson High School in 2001. She played the piano and French horn and had an eclectic taste in music. Rachel was involved in basketball and softball and continued playing softball and darts on various teams throughout the years.

She attended St. Cloud Technical College for Accounting and Alexandria Technical College for Hotel Restaurant Management. Rachel worked in various restaurants in Alexandria.  Most recently at Doolittle’s where she was BOH Employee of the Month in February before the restaurant recently closed.  She was an avid reader, loved watching movies, Grey’s Anatomy and NCIS. Everyone knew her favorite color was purple, and she had a huge soft spot in her heart for her cat, Nola. Rachel loved taking photos of beautiful sunrises and sunsets and was so delighted when butterflies, dragonflies and lady bugs landed on her.

Most of all, Rachel will be remembered for her amazing memory of the little details and for always caring and helping others. She is survived by her parents, Ron and Camille Trandahl of Alexandria; sister, Sarah (Eric) Rosenquist of Center, ND; brother, Steve Trandahl of Fargo, ND; nieces, Elise and Alexis; maternal grandmother, Arleene Hanson of Alexandria; three uncles, Bradley (Sandy) Hanson of Big Stone, SD; Randy Hanson of Alexandria; and Richard (Linda) Trandahl of St. Paul; and 7 cousins. Rachel is preceded in death by her grandparents Harold and Elaine Trandahl and John Hanson.

  Visitation will be held from 4-6 PM on Thursday, October 1, 2020, at Calvary Lutheran Church.  Please enter the church from Douglas Street.  Social Distancing and masks will be required.  A Private Memorial Service will be on Friday, October 2, 2020.  The service will also be live-streamed on the funeral home website.  Interment will be held at Evergreen Cemetery

Memorials are preferred to Lakes Area Humane Society in Alexandria.

https://www.andersonfuneral.net/obituary/Rachel-Trandahl

Paulette Schulz Podratz & Jerry Podratz > daughter 09.24.2020

“All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single flame.”  - St. Francis of Assisi

Chelsi Lynn (Podratz) Terwey, age 42 of Otsego MN, passed from her families loving arms into the Lord’s on September 24th, 2020.  The cause was non-small cell lung cancer.  She was born on November 8th, 1977 to Jerry & Paulette (Schulz) Podratz in Shakopee, MN.  Chelsi graduated from Delano High School in 1996. As a very active athlete, she participated & excelled in cross country, basketball, track & field, & played flute in the school band.  Chelsi attended college at the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting in 2000.  Chelsi was also a collegiate athlete in Cross Country & Track for 3 years.

After college in October of 2000 Chelsi started working for Motivaction, (now Augeo), & has remained there currently as a senior accountant for what would have been her 20-year anniversary this October.  Chelsi loved what she did for her career & cared about so many people she worked with at Motivaction.  Always dedicated, she worked until she physically couldn’t in August of 2019.

“If you cannot do great things, do small things in a great way.”  - Napoleon Hill

This quote sums up best who Chelsi was, she did small things in a great way.  Her family & friends were what mattered the most to her in this world, that was her one true passion.  One look at any scrapbook she made & you could immediately tell that.  Chelsi had a quiet, gentle way about her while remaining the pillar of strength of the family.  She took comfort in the little everyday things that made the family tick, helping Cooper with homework, braiding Lexi’s hair, playing family games, & switching decorations in the house to reflect the season were the little moments of joy that she lived for.  She was simple & uncomplicated that way, always giving to those around her & thinking of herself last, if ever.  This along with her radiant smile that even lung cancer could not suppress, is what drew so many people to love & care for her. She loved spending time in her scrapbooking room creating works of art for memories of past events.  Chelsi also loved when spring came along & she could start planting flowers for the front of the house & the deck in the back.  She also loved to read & it was very seldom that there wasn’t a book within an arms reach.  My how God probably laughed when Chelsi got to heaven & responded to his greeting of how she’s doing with “I’m doing fine, how are you?”

Chelsi’s memory will be carried forward here on earth through her loving husband Erik, daughter Alexis, son Cooper, along with parents Jerry & Paulette (Schulz) Podratz, siblings Derick Podratz, & Kelie (Podratz) Davis, her in-laws, 10 nephews & nieces; Tyler, Mitchell, Amber, Cassie, Jacob, Audrey, Caleb, Caitlyn, Sylvia, & Samuel, & many other extended family & friends.

Chelsi wanted her body to be donated to the Mayo clinic for medical research.  When her remains are returned to the family, we will have a large in-person memorial on a later determined date to celebrate her life.  In lieu of flowers, considerations for the family may be sent to the lung cancer foundation of your choice in Chelsi’s name, or to the Chelsi Terwey GoFundMe campaign which will be used to plant trees in the Terwey’s yard in remembrance of Chelsi.

There will be a small memorial service for immediate family only due to the Pandemic at Word of Peace Church in Rogers on Sunday, October 4th at 1:00pm.  The link to live stream the service is below, we hope you all join us online in remembering Chelsi.

www.wordofpeace.org/funeralstream

“When you were born, you cried & the world rejoiced.  Live your life so that when you die, the world cries & you rejoice.”  - Indian Proverb

https://abreathofhope.org/chelsi-terwey/

https://www.gofundme.com/f/chelsi-terwey-and-family-fund