Duane VELDHOUSE

VELDHOUSE, SPITLER, BENSON, HENRICHS, BROWN, ENNEN, MEHOK

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 7/14/2008 at 09:12:52

April 24, 2004
Grant County Herald, MN

Duane Veldhouse of Herman, MN, passed away Sunday, April 18, 2004 at Wheaton, MN Community Hospital. Duane's family was with him at the time of his passing. He was 80 years old. Funeral services were held Wednesday, April 21, 2004 at the Faith United Methodist Church in Norcross, MN with Rev. Joseph Carpenter officiating. Burial services were held Thursday, April 22, at the Amsterdam Township Cemetery in Kanawha, IA.

Duane was born September 13, 1923, at his family's farm near Kanawha, IA. He was one of ten children born to Phillip and Bessie (Spitler) Veldhouse. He attended country school near the farm. On his first day, he decided he didn't need any more education and went home. His parents promptly gave him a spanking and sent him back. It was a good thing Duane did go back. He attended Kanawha High School, where he met Ardelle Benson. Duane married Ardelle in Clarion, IA, in October 1944, and they eventually had six children. They would have celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary this year.

Duane began farming as a young boy on the family farm with an interest in raising Chester White hogs. He continued farming with his family after high school, then he and Ardelle moved the family to LuVerne, IA, in 1950. They returned to the family farm near Kanawha in 1952. In 1962, Duane and Ardelle packed up one more time, moving to a farm northwest of Norcross, MN, where he raised a variety of livestock and crops. A community-minded man, Duane was deeply involved in a number of organizations, including the International Order of Oddfellows in Herman. During his farming career, he was a board member of Norcross Cooperative Oil, Farmer's Cooperative Elevator of Norcross, Grant County Fertilizer Company, Grant County Fair and was president of the Norcross school board prior to its merger with the Herman Community Schools. He was a member of several boards and committees of the Faith United Methodist Church in Norcross. Duane was also an involved member of Minnesota's DFL political party. Duane retired from active farming in 1987, moving to Herman, where he could keep an eye on the farm, remain active in the community and dote on his grandchildren. He and Ardelle also joined the Herman United Methodist Church.

Duane is survived by his wife, Ardelle; daughter Deanna Henrichs of Blaine, MN; sons, Dennis of Herman, MN, Dwight (Jennie Brown) of Norcross, MN, Donald (Arlene) of Yankton, SD and Darrel of Moorhead, MN; nine grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; two sisters-in-law, Janice Ennen of Herman and Karen Mehok; as well as numerous step-grandchildren and great-grandchildren whom he welcomed into the family. He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Douglas; and his seven brothers and two sisters. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.