Arthur N. Hermanson Arthur Norman Hermanson was born October 29, 1915, on the family farm south of Boyd to parents Henry and Dorothea Hermanson. He was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Boyd. He attended and graduated from Boyd High School. Art was the youngest of six children, so he stayed home and "farmed with Dad." During his early years, our country was ravaged by the dust bowl and hard times which he called the "Dirty Thirties". During this time, Art and his father Henry were barely able to hold onto the family farm. Hard physical work was everywhere, but he enjoyed and was proud to be the farming son. At the age of 21, he joined the State Farm Insurance Co. part-time and sold insurance in this area for the next 45 years. A few years later Art met the love of his life, Lucille Anderson. They were married on April 8, 1943. Their marriage was blessed with two children, son DeWayne (Karen) Hermanson and daughter Barbara (Norm) Hendrickson. Grandchildren then came and included Celyne Hermanson, Dawn Hermanson, (friend Brock Waterbury), Andrea Hermanson (husband Nic Schmidt), Renae Hermanson (friend Jonathan Murray), Erin Steward (husband Rob), Bethany O'Connell (husband Kevin) and great grandson Chase Lee. Art and Lu bought their own farm after their marriage and spent the next 66 years together raising their family and farming the land. They were lifelong members of Trinity Lutheran Church where Art served on various church boards, plus the Boyd School Board and then Dawson-Boyd School Board. Later, he became a member of the Board of Directors of the Dawson Mills soybean plant. Art and Lu enjoyed many fun times including camping and fishing at the lake, wintering "down south," bowling league for many years and of course many, many get-togethers with family and friends with great Buck and Whist games. Early in their marriage they regularly found great fun at the old fashioned barn dances. Art was a farmer through and through. Although retiring officially, he never really retired. He spent the next 25 years and more helping his son DeWayne farm their land. He loved to work the fields for planting and especially enjoyed the harvest. The work needs to be done, you know, and he could be found driving a tractor up to the age of 93. Later when his memory started to wane he still was tending to things that needed fixing or painting. Sitting still was not an option. Art lost such a large part of himself when he lost Lu. The last years were becoming harder with health problems and limited mobility. He did keep that sense of humor which was evident in his eyes and actions. His greatest treasures remained those beautiful granddaughters and great grandson whom he was quietly very proud of. Art left this life in the early morning hours of December 28, 2011, at the age of 96 years. But, that's not the end of the story. Art and Lu are again together in a wonderful place where the fields have no rocks and it always rains just enough. No one needs more than that as the Lord watches over it all. Art was preceded in death by his loving wife Lucille; his parents, Henry and Dorothea; brothers: Helmer, Durven, Melvin, George; and sister, Jorgina. He is survived by son, DeWayne Hermanson and wife Karen; daughter, Barbara and husband Norm Hendrickson; granddaughters: Celyne, Dawn, Andrea, Erin, Bethany, Renae; and great grandson Chase. Other survivors include sisters-in-law: Vivian, Kathryn and Phyllis Anderson; and brother-in-law, Gerald Anderson, together with numerous nieces and nephews. We will treasure his memory and all the love and guidance he gave us. In Loving Memory of Arthur N. Hermanson Visitation Sunday, January 1, 2012 ~ 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Prayer Service 6:30 p.m. Lynner Funeral Home, Clarkfield, Minnesota Funeral Service Monday, January 2, 2012 ~ 11:00 a.m. Trinity Lutheran Church, Boyd, Minnesota Clergy Officiating Pastor Lori Wold Organist, Mavis Hutt Congregational Hymns ""Just As I Am" "Beautiful Savior" "Softly and Tenderly, Jesus is Calling" Special Music Honorary Casket Bearers (Granddaughters) Celyne ~ Dawn ~ Andrea Renae ~ Erin ~ Bethany (Great-Grandson) Chase Casket Bearers Michael Hermanson ~ Roger Hermanson Doug Hermanson ~ Paul Hermanson Greg Hermanson ~ Wally Walstrom Final Resting Place Trinity Lutheran Cemetery Boyd, Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota Arrangements by Lynner Funeral Home Since 1891 Clarkfield Minnesota