Farland, Dean Kermit (1928-2016)

FARLAND, FLATRUD, DURBY, HENKE, ATKINSON, KOCH, PARSONS, SHELDAHL, GUHL, KRULL, KRAUSE

Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 4/10/2016 at 16:10:21

Dean Kermit Farland
May 29, 1928 - March 07, 2016

Dean K. Farland, 87, of Thompson, Iowa, died on Monday, March 7, 2016, at his home in rural Thompson after a courageous struggle with pulmonary fibrosis.

Dean was born on May 29, 1928, in Swea City, Iowa, to Herman Silas and Anna Marie (Flatrud) Farland. They, later, moved to Armstrong where Dean went to Country School and Junior High. Then, his family moved to the Leland area, and Dean attended Thompson High School, graduating in 1946.

Baptized on July 22, 1928, at the United Lutheran Church in Swea City, Iowa, and confirmed at North Prairie Lutheran Church on May 23, 1943, Dean Kermit Farland married Ruby Pauline Durby at the West Prairie Lutheran Church, Leland, Iowa, on March 16, 1947, Pastor Perry Sampson officiating. Together, Dean and Ruby farmed in the Scarville area for one year and then, while raising their family of six (Barbara, Bruce, Gary, Larry, Marcia, and Michael), in the same section near Thompson for the next sixty-eight years, until this week. Dean, certainly, had a passion for farming.

Dean loved his family and his many friends, and he liked spending time with them. He enjoyed going for coffee at the Hometown Market and in surrounding towns. For twenty-three years, he and Ruby vacationed in Mission, Texas. In addition, he enjoyed camping with Ruby and friends, vacationing at Green Lake in Minnesota during the summer, boating and teaching his kids and grandkids and many of their friends to water ski, and skiing himself into his 70s. Very proud of his Iowa State and UNI kids and grandkids, he wore both caps proudly. He liked competing in tractor pulls while his family cheered him on, and he, really, enjoyed attending his kids’ and grandkids’ sporting events and also watching NASCAR.

A man of faith, Dean raised his family in this faith. For sixty years, he was a member of Bethany Lutheran Church. He loved getting his family ready for church and filling up the whole pew. He, also, served on the Church Council. Elsewhere in the community, he served on the Board of Directors (including president) of the Thompson Farmers Co-op Elevator for twenty-seven years. Proud of his role as a Shareholder, he helped build the Hometown Market and served on the Board up until recently. In addition, he belonged to the Lion’s Club, the Thompson Development Community Group, and Thompson Charities, Inc.

Dean is survived by his high school sweetheart and loving wife, Ruby, of nine days short of sixty-nine years; his children: Bruce Farland (Forest City, Iowa), Gary Farland (Austin, Minnesota), Larry Farland (Yuma, Arizona), Marcia (Duane) Henke (Larrabee, Iowa), and Michael (Lisa) Farland (Chanhassen, Minnesota); eleven grandchildren: Sheila (Dennis) Atkinson, Kayla (Jared) Koch, Courtney and Parker (Kasslin) Farland, Kyle and Cory Farland, Blake and Logan Farland, Brandon (Shauna) Henke, Whitney (Dan) Parsons, and Jay (Jennifer) Sheldahl; six great-grandchildren: Emily, Noah, and Lani Rose Krull; Mason and Allison Sheldahl; Hadley Farland; and a great-grandson on the way; his brothers: Marvyle (Ann) and Keith (Mary) Farland; his sister, Arlys (Jerry) Krause; and his brothers- and sisters-in-law: Merle and Blanche Durby and Bethel Durby; as well as by numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives, and many friends.

Dean was preceded in death by his daughter, Barbara Sheldahl (who passed away on the same date, March 7th, twenty-five years ago) and Barbara’s Husband, John N. Sheldahl; his parents, Herman and Anna Farland (Herman passed away on March 6th, twenty-five years ago at same age of 87); his mother- and father-in-law, Palmer and Nettie Durby; his sisters- and brothers-in-law: Dorothy and Al Guhl, John and Delores Durby, and Marlo Durby; along with other relatives and friends.

Funeral service will be held at 1:30 PM, Saturday, March 12, 2016, at Bethany Lutheran Church, 183 2nd Ave. E., Thompson, Iowa 50478, with Pastor Lynn J. Noel officiating. Visitation will be from 4:00 to 7:00 PM, Friday, at the Mittelstadt Funeral Home, 902 East Main Street, Lake Mills, Iowa 50450, and again one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will take place at Rose Hill Cemetery, Thompson, Iowa.

Copyright © 2016, Mittelstadt Funeral Home

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