Harlan Greeley Dobie

Olson-Tichenor Funeral Home
307 Main Street Northeast 
Mapleton, MN 56065
507-524-3616

Harlan Greeley Dobie, 79, of Mapleton was born April 10, 1939, to Harold and Edna (Stuemke) Dobie at Immanuel Hospital in Mankato. He died Saturday,  December 8th, 2018 at the Mapleton Community Home after a two-year struggle recovering from a fall.

The funeral service will be Wednesday, December 12, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Mapleton.  Visitation will be on Tuesday, December 11, 2018 from 4:00-7:00 p.m. at Olson-Tichenor Funeral Home, Mapleton and one hour prior to the service at the church.  Burial with military honors will be at Sterling Cemetery.

Harlan was baptized at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church on October 19, 1941.  He was confirmed in 1954 at Jackson Lake Church in Amboy. He went to elementary school at School District 33 in Sterling Flat, a country school, and his 8th grade class was the last graduating class.  He graduated from Mapleton High School May 31, 1957. In November 1957, he joined the Air Force and went to basic training at Lackland, AFB in San Antonio, TX and then to Chanute AFB in Rantoul, IL for training as an aircraft engine mechanic. He was stationed at Whiteman AFB in Knob Noster, MO for 4 years and 10 days.  While stationed there, he went to England, Spain, Bermuda, Newfoundland, Labrador and the Azores Island.  He was honorably discharged on May 21, 1963. On February  25, 1962, he married Ruth Zeh in Warrensburg, MO. They farmed in Missouri while Harlan also worked at Stahl Specialty Company and the Agricultural Stabilization Conservation (ASC) office for 3 years.  In 1968, they moved to Mapleton, MN where they farmed by Lura Lake.  Harlan continued to work for the ASC office until 1974 when he became a substitute rural mail carrier for the Mapleton Post Office.  In 1979, he became a full-time rural carrier for the Mapleton Post Office and retired after 35 years with the post office in August 1998.  On July 5, 1989, he married Sheryl (Trouth) Covey in Hawaii.

Harlan grew up on the family farm that was homesteaded in 1856 on the south end of Lura Lake.  He loved farming and missed it dearly after he retired at age 75.  He spent his whole life living by Lura Lake and helped form the Lura Lake Aeration Association.  He was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church and served on the church council.  Harlan was an avid card player and belonged to several card clubs over the years.  In the winter, Harlan enjoyed snowmobiling, ice fishing and curling.  Harlan was his own GPS and enjoyed traveling to many places. He was a proud member of Amboy Legion Post 276.  Harlan and Sheryl spent 12 years wintering Meza, AZ.  Harlan never lost his love of flying, and in 1977, he got his private pilot’s license and owned four airplanes over the years—his favorite being the 172 Cessna. 

Harlan is survived by his wife of 29 years, Sheryl; children, Terry (Dawn) Dobie of Good Thunder, MN; Cindy (Joe) Oppold of Hastings, MN; Brenda Dobie of Cape Coral, FL; Lindsey (Mike) Kennedy of Rosemount, MN; Rachel (Charlie) Carver of Lakeville, MN; twelve grandchildren Bradley (Danielle) Dobie, Nick Dobie, Stephen Dobie, Amanda Oppold, Amy Oppold, Jordan (Stephanie) Leagjeld, Trevor Leagjeld, Meghan Leagjeld, Connor Kennedy, Isabella Kennedy, Caitlin Carver and John Carver; three great-grandchildren Nolan Leagjeld, Harlow Leagjeld and Blake Dobie; six siblings, Roy Dobie, Cliff (Charlotte) Dobie, Marjorie (Ron) Stich, Eileen (Duane) Ullrich, Shirlie Swanholm and Dennis (Barb) Dobie; in-laws Anna (John) Luellen and Betty (Vernon) Gudde; and many nieces and nephews.  The family is very thankful for all the close friends and the Arizona Angels.

Harlan is preceeded in death by his wife Ruth of 26 years, his parents, his in-laws Christian Zeh, Elfriede Zeh, Wayne Trouth and Beth Trouth.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Amboy Legion Post 276 and Lura Lake Aeration Association.