Our Staff
At Mundwiler and Larson Funeral Homes, we are honored to have earned the trust and confidence placed in us by those that we serve.
From the time the first phone call is received, throughout the service and beyond, each staff member at our funeral home contributes in an important way. We are very proud of our staff of caregivers who are fully equipped to present all the information needed for you and your family to make informed, comfortable decisions.
TIM AND TANA MUNDWILER
OWNERS/LICENSED FUNERAL DIRECTORS
Tim and Tana
(Jaeger) Mundwiler graduated from the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science in
1984. They returned to the family business in Milbank, and represent the third
generation of funeral directors in the Mundwiler family. Tim and Tana purchased
the Milbank business in 1989, and in 2010, became co-owners of the Larson
Funeral Homes in Ortonville, MN; Clinton, MN; Graceville, MN; Browns Valley,
MN; as well as Emanuel-Patterson Funeral Home in Milbank.
Tim and Tana have
three daughters: Kaylee (and husband Benjamin Arlt), Amber (and husband Kirby Odde),
and Jamie. They are blessed with one
beautiful granddaughter, Caroline Arlt. Tim has been a member of the Milbank
Fire Department since 1984, and retired in 2017. He was honored as South Dakota
Lions Funeral Director of the Year in 1996. Tana serves as a board member on
the Milbank Community Foundation. They
are members of Central United Methodist Church. Tim, Tana, and their girls
enjoy horse showing and are proud to claim several World Champion titles.
ERIK ELIASON
LICENSED FUNERAL DIRECTOR
Erik joined the
staff at Mundwiler and Larson Funeral Homes in 2015.
Erik grew up in
Fergus Falls and after graduating from Fergus Falls High School, he attended
Minnesota State Community and Technical College. Erik then relocated to
Illinois, where he graduated from Worsham College of Mortuary Science. In 2013,
Erik moved back to Minnesota and completed his Funeral Director Internship in
Little Falls.
Erik enjoys to
being a part of our small community.
Andrew Johnson
LICENSED FUNERAL DIRECTOR
Andrew
was born and raised in Milbank where he graduated high school. He
graduated from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD with a Bachelor of Science
Degree in Biology and Secondary Education, and later graduated from the
University of Minnesota Program of Mortuary Science.
Andrew was a Science Teacher in Gillette, Wyoming for several years before returning to school in 2003. After his graduation from the University of Minnesota, Andrew worked as a Licensed Funeral Director in St. Cloud until 2016.
Andrew and his wife Brenda Handel-Johnson, a piano and voice teacher, and church musician have one daughter, Annaeka, who is a teacher and music librarian in Chicago.
Andrew joined the team at Mundwiler and Larson Funeral Homes in 2017, and has been a wonderful addition to the team.
Andrew
is a member of American Lutheran Church, Milbank. In his personal time,
he enjoys hunting and fishing, singing and bluegrass music, baking bread and
cooking.
Elizabeth Bakkelund
LICENSED FUNERAL DIRECTOR
Elizabeth joined the Mundwiler & Larson family in May of 2018. She and her sense of humor have been warmly welcomed to the team.
Elizabeth grew up on a farm in the Odessa area and graduated from Ortonville High School with the class of 2005. Following high school, she attended Presentation College in Aberdeen, SD, earning her Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology (with a minor in Psychology), Associate of Science Degree in Chemistry, and Associate of Science Degree in Medical Assisting. In 2013, Elizabeth graduated from the University of Minnesota in the Twin Cities with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mortuary Science.
She worked as a funeral director in the Montevideo/Dawson area for five years before returning to her roots. Elizabeth looks forward to actively participating in the Ortonville community and has enjoyed being “back home”.
Outside of her career, Elizabeth
enjoys spending time with her family and friends, being outdoors, going on ATV
rides on her parents’ farm, reading mystery novels, playing with her two Dachshunds
(Tucker and Chipper). She enjoys a good
cup of coffee, and admits she has a guilty pleasure for reality television. Her
secret talents include speaking conversational Swedish and singing karaoke.
KAYLEE ARLT
PRENEED SPECIALIST
Kaylee (Mundwiler) Arlt is the oldest daughter of Tim and Tana. She joined the staff in 2017. Kaylee heads our Preneed Department and helps in the office.
Kaylee is a graduate of Milbank High School,
South Dakota State University, and has a B.A. degree in Spanish, a B.A. degree
in Global Studies and a Latin American Studies minor. She has a diploma of Sustainable Food
Production from Minnesota State Community and Technical College – Fergus Falls.
Kaylee is married to Benjamin Arlt and is blessed with a daughter, Caroline. They live north of Milbank on Prairie Drop Farm, raising pastured pork, poultry, beef, and lamb.
RHONDA BECKMAN
OFFICE ASSISTANT
JAMIE J. MUNDWILER
SUPPORT STAFF
Jamie is the
youngest daughter of Tim and Tana Mundwiler and is an invaluable member of our
team. She is currently attending South Dakota State University with a political
science and pre-mortuary studies. She is
an active member of State University Theatre and has performed in several
productions. In her spare time she works
for a funeral home in Brookings. Her
future plans include mortuary school.
When Jamie is in
Milbank she assists with funerals, visitations, arrangements, and is our “gal
Friday.” She produces most of the DVD memorial tributes, as she is blessed with
great technical skills. Jamie also enjoys singing with her father at prayer
services and funerals.
In her personal
time, Jamie is an accomplished equestrian, claiming six World Champion titles and nine Reserve World titles
with her Palominos, Pete and Toby.
ILETA HERBERG
RETIRED FUNERAL DIRECTOR/SUPPORT STAFF
Ileta joined the staff at Larson Funeral Home in 2007, as a Licensed Funeral Director. Ileta retired in 2014 and continues to help out at the funeral home as needed.
Ileta resides in Clinton, where she grew up.
JIM FOSTER
RETIRED FUNERAL DIRECTOR/SUPPORT STAFF
As a graduate of
the University of Minnesota, with a Bachelor's Degree in Mortuary Science, Jim
is now retired and helps out at the funeral home as needed.
Jim served as the Chief Financial Operator of
Ortonville Area Health Services and Appleton Hospital and Nursing Home for 24
years. He worked in Funeral Service in the mid 1980's, and returned to his
original career in 2013. Jim and his wife Neva are the proud parents of three
children; Nathan, Adrienne, and Allison. They have nine grandchildren as well.
Jim and Neva have lived in Ortonville since 1978
where Jim has served on the City Council, Chamber of Commerce, and as an EMT
and ambulance director. Jim and Neva are members of First English Lutheran
Church.
Jim's hobbies include outdoor photography, biking,
community theatre, pontooning, and motor home camping.
JERRY AND DARLENE JAEGER
SUPPORT STAFF
Jerry and Darlene
are the parents of Tana Mundwiler. They provide tremendous support for Tim and
Tana with their commitment to the family business. Jerry (and his dog, Katie)
assist with non-local transports. Darlene assists with visitations, funerals, cleaning,
and hospitality. They adore their six grandchildren, and one
great-granddaughter. Jerry and Darlene enjoy spending their winters in Texas
and love their summers near Big Stone Lake.
ARMAND ASWEGE
SUPPORT STAFF
Armand very much
enjoys his work and the rewards that working with families in their time of
need bring to him.
Armand was born
and raised on a grain and dairy farm. He graduated from West Central School of
Agriculture in 1957. Following graduation, he joined the Army Reserve of which
he served for six years. He continued to farm and dairy while he and his wife,
Garnet, raised their two children, Troy and Tracy. In 1999 they moved to
Graceville and at the present time, he is the Area Sales Representative for a
Seed Company and Garnet works at Star Bank in Graceville.
Their son Troy
and his wife, Brenda live in West Fargo and have three children - Katelyn,
Nathan and Kristin. Tracy and her husband, Ron, live in Eden Prairie and have
two boys - Frederick and Joseph. Armand and Garnet are members of Trinity
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Johnson, where Armand has served many years on
the Church Council. In their free time they enjoy bowling and golf and spending
time with family and friends.
JOE BERNING
SUPPORT STAFF
Having lived in
the Big Stone County area his entire life, Joe recently retired from law
enforcement after 33 years. He served as Deputy for Big Stone County for
nineteen years, and served as County Sheriff for fourteen years.
Joe and his wife
Debbie have two children - Jason and his wife Shelly of Wheaton and Jennifer
and her husband Troy Cronen of Clinton. They also have four grandchildren -
Reese and Tyce Cronen, and Drake and Grant Berning. In his personal time, Joe
enjoys hunting, fishing, golfing and bowling.
MICHAEL DORRY
SUPPORT STAFF
Mike was born in
Ortonville and graduated from Ortonville High School. Mike served in the United
States Navy and is a Veteran of the Vietnam Conflict. He has been the Commander
of the VFW Post 3964 for the past 18 years.
Mike retired from
Otter Tail Power Company after thirty-six years of service. He has been on the
Ortonville City Council for 20 years and is a member of St. John's Catholic
Church.
Mike and his wife
Diane have been married over fifty years. They have two daughters, Lisa and her
husband, Allan Ross, and Sara and her husband, James Reinke. Mike and Diane
have three granddaughters, Alisha, Emily and Taylor Ross.
In his personal
time, Mike enjoys spending time with family (including his dog Koko), boating
on Big Stone Lake, and hunting.
RICK SCHNECK
SUPPORT STAFF