Bonnerup Funeral and Cremation Service of Albert Lea, which provides funeral services from facilities in Albert Lea, Ellendale and New Richland, announced the acquisition of the former Northstar Powersports building located on east Main Street.

Purchased from a local business family, the Powersports building will be remodeled into a new funeral home facility.

Upon completion, the nearly 14,000-square-foot building will provide the largest and most up-to-date funeral facility in the area, according to Bonnerup funeral home managers and local partners, Steve Merfeld, Paula Wilson and Larry Wulff.

Plans for the redesign of the 7-year-old building are currently being completed, with construction anticipated to begin yet this spring, and a grand opening planned for fall of 2008.

Regular updates of the final facility design and construction schedule will be provided to the community as they become available, according to Connie VanRyswyk, local Bonnerup office manager.