Harley Oldenborg

Harley James Oldenborg, age 91, of rural Lake Crystal, died Monday, September 11, 2006 at Immanuel St. Joseph Hospital, Mankato.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, September 15, 2006 at Holy Family Catholic Church in Lake Crystal, with Rev. John Wilmot officiating. Burial will be in Holy Family Cemetery. A visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. on Thursday at Lake Crystal Mortuary, with a 4 p.m. prayer service. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Arthritis Foundation.

Harley was born on January 14, 1915 to Hans and Elizabeth (Whipps) Oldenborg at Lake Benton, MN. There he attended country school until he moved with his parents to Cleveland, MN in 1930. He married Evelyn Saam on October 26, 1940 at the Cleveland Church of Nativity. They farmed near Madison Lake for three years, before moving to Lake Crystal in 1943. Harley was a dairy farmer in Lincoln Township until his retirement in 1981.

Besides farming, Harley enjoyed old time music, dancing, playing cards, and cracking black walnuts. He especially enjoyed all of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was a township officer for 20 years, served on the Lincoln Township country school board, was a past member of the Lake Crystal Lions Club, Holy Family Church, and the Mens Club of Holy Family Church.

Harley is survived by his wife, Evelyn; five daughters, Karen (Robert) Mohalski of Elgin, IL, Faye (Donald) Turpin of Shullsburg, WI, Connie (Robert) Conlon of West Des Moines, IA, Ardis (Craig) Bair of Minnesota Lake, MN, and Mary (Rocky) Duerr of Maplewood, MN; 15 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Dallas Oldenborg of Lake Crystal; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, George Oldenborg; and his sister, Jorie Ferguson.