Meet Our Caring Team

Tracy (Murra) Jutting comes to us from Buffalo Center, IA. She graduated high school from there, attended Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Wheeling, IL and returned in 2011 to get back into small town funeral service, where it’s a good thing that everyone knows your name. 

She has enjoyed getting to know the people of Blue Earth and the surrounding communities since starting with the Southern MN group in 2018 and looks forward to many more years to come. She and her husband (Jarvis) enjoy traveling, participating in area cornhole tournaments and home improvement projects. They have two boys, Jaycob & Domenic.

Irina was born in Russia and graduated from Business College of Volgograd, Russia. She moved to the United States in 2001 and graduated from Mortuary Science Program, University of Minnesota in 2012.

Irina used to reside in the Twin Cities and was a Traveling Funeral Director before moving to Blue Earth in 2026. She enjoys small town living and learning about the community.

In her spare time, she loves gardening, reading and writing poetry, visiting with her children and caring for her 15-year-old cat, Cougar.

Andrew Schwarz joined Spencer-Owen's Funeral Home as an Advance Funeral Planner in January of 2022. He grew up and graduated from Charles City, Iowa, and later moved to Des Moines, Iowa where he spent several years working in the mortgage industry. He completed his MBA at the University of Phoenix and taught classes as an adjunct college instructor for four years. In June of 2012, he moved to Albert Lea and has lived and worked there since.

Andrew and his wife, Corissa, were married in October of 2018. Together, they have four adult children. One of Andrew’s favorite pastimes is searching for antiques at various estate sales and auctions. He is an avid collector of several types of antiques, including a large collection of old books, cameras, tobacco tins, and antique commercial trade cards. He also enjoys spending time on walks and bike rides with his wife along the many beautiful nature trails and lakes. You’ll often find him fishing on Fountain Lake and gardening in his spare time.

Cathy Kietzer grew up on a farm near Amboy and has spent the past 50 years in Willow Creek where she built a farming life with her husband. After losing her husband of 47 years in 2025, Cathy brings not only professional experience but also deep personal understanding to the families she serves.

With more than 20 years in funeral service, Cathy currently serves as office manager at Spencer Owen in Winnebago and Zaharia in Truman. She is dedicated to guiding families with care, believing that every person deserves to be treated with dignity, respect, and compassion during life’s most difficult moments.

Cathy finds her greatest joy in time spent with her children, her 12 grandchildren, and her beloved puppy, Max, who always keeps her life a little brighter.

Allison Johnston of Northrop MN, serves families as a Transfer Care Specialist, Funeral Assistant, Aftercare Coordinator and Administration. She has been a part of the team since 2022 and is dedicated to providing compassionate, personalized care and guide each family with patience and respect.

Having experienced grief firsthand, Allison strives to bring a supportive, steady presence to every family she serves.

While away from work, Allison enjoys time with family, lake days and crafting.

Doreen was born in Superior, Wisconsin into a family of 6 brothers and 3 sisters. She grew up on a farm west of Amboy also known as “Willow Creek”. She graduated from Amboy-Good Thunder High School in 1982. She married Art Tenneson in 1999 and moved to his family’s 3rd generation farm by Frost.

She learned early in life, that we should help others especially in times of need and do it with compassion and respect. She feels it is an honor and a privilege to be serving families at Patton, Spencer-Owen and Zaharia Funeral Homes since 2017.

Doreen is involved in the community with being on the Frost Viking Relay for Life Team, Bethany Church Ladies Organization, assisting at the United Lutheran Churches Wednesday School and is on the Frost Ambulance.

She also enjoys spending time with family and friends, gardening, hiking, bird watching and do-it-yourself projects.