Starla Kae Scholten, 58, of Hills, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on February 23, 2026, after a courageous battle with cancer, surrounded by her loving family and friends. She leaves behind a legacy of love, laughter, generosity, and unwavering selflessness.

Starla faced life’s toughest challenges with remarkable grace. She was a giver who rarely put herself first and loved her family fiercely. Her boys Tom and Andrew, her daughters-in-law Megan and Lexi, and especially her cherished grandchildren: Addison, Callahan, Madden, Oliver, and Marlee. She traveled hours without hesitation to support them in their many activities, never missing a chance to cheer them on. She had a special gift for making her grandchildren feel celebrated, always arriving with a new pair (or two) of pajamas, sending them home with bags of treasures for every season and holiday, and creating countless magical family vacations up north.

Hosting was her superpower. Truly the best hostess around, she was always ready with her famous Velveeta Dip and a cold Coors Light. Her home was a perfect reflection of her heart beautifully decorated for every season, walls covered in photos of her boys and their families, twinkling lights glowing in every room, and cupboards overflowing with games. If you were lucky enough to walk through her door, you instantly felt her warmth: beer in the fridge, snacks galore, laughter nearby, and lights shining bright just like she did for everyone she met. Whether at the school front office or in everyday moments, she always found the light in dark situations and shared it generously.

Starla is lovingly remembered by her two sons, Tom (Megan) and Andrew (Lexi); her beloved grandchildren, Addison, Callahan, Madden, Oliver, and Marlee; her siblings, Stan (Deb) Van Wyhe and Sandy (Bo) Connell; her boyfriend, Scott Monger; extended family; and friends she affectionately called “her people.” She was preceded in death by her parents, Harvey and Sally Van Wyhe.

Her light will continue to shine in every game played with kindness, every gathering filled with love, every twinkling light, and every reminder that life is too short not to love hard.

Visitation and funeral arrangements will be forthcoming.