Wayne Eugene "Gene" Oftedahl was born November 25, 1927, on the Carlson farm in Sandnes Township to Sidney and Emma (Austin) Oftedahl. He passed away January 19, 2015, at the Clarkfield Care Center at the age of 87. Gene graduated from Hanley Falls High School in 1945. He enlisted in the Merchant Marines, but before he served, the war ended. He went to the University of Minnesota Agricultural School for a while but soon went home to farm. He married his high school sweetheart, Joan Hanson on June 17, 1950. In 1957 he was awarded the "Outstanding Young Farmer of the Year" by the Granite Falls Jaycees. Gene and Joan were married for 64 years until Joan passed away June 11, 2014. Gene loved South Dakota and everyone in it. He traveled there to buy and sell cattle and to go hunting and fishing. He brought his grandchildren there, two at a time, to teach them to love South Dakota, too. For many years, he would load up the horse trailer in August when the sweet corn was ready and drive all over South Dakota, delivering it to all of his real good friends. Gene planted wildflowers wherever he went. He carried birdsfoot trefoil in his pickup and in his pocket at all times and would throw it out the window whenever he found himself alone on a road or at a stop sign. He also loved to plant trees. Each of the grandchildren has planted a tree with Grandpa Gene over the years. Gene was involved in his community in many ways, serving on the Farmers Co-op Elevator board, Yellow Medicine church council, and Hanley Falls school board. He and Joan loved to bowl and to go camping and fishing. They also enjoyed vacationing in Texas in the winter. He lived life loving God, his family and friends. He will be deeply missed. Gene is survived by his sister, Eleanor (Malcolm) Amundson; his brother, Glenn (Darlene) Oftedahl; his children, Wayne, Julie, Tom and Mark, all of Hanley Falls: Wayne and Bonnie Oftedahl, Julie and Elmo Volstad, Tom and Julie Oftedahl, Mark and Laura Oftedahl; his 12 grandchildren Wendy (Anton) Towne, Sara (Roy) Gjerde, Josephine (Charlie) Scoville, Audrey Ludwig, Augusta Volstad, Emma (Daryl) Gregoire, Tomas Volstad, Laura Oftedahl, Ashley (Zach) Jorgenson, Nick Risacher, Kyle Oftedahl and Holly Oftedahl; and his 12 great grandchildren: Xavier, Zachary, Gavyn and Sydney Towne; Hadley, Aksel, Sena and Torger Gjerde; Stella and Harvey Scoville; and Addyson and Harper Jorgenson. In Loving Memory of Wayne Eugene "Gene" Oftedahl Visitation Thursday, January 22, 2015 ~ 9:30-10:30 a.m. Yellow Medicine Lutheran Church, Hanley Falls, Minnesota Funeral Service Thursday, January 22, 2015 ~ 10:30 a.m. Yellow Medicine Lutheran Church, Hanley Falls, Minnesota Clergy Officiating, Pastor David Peterson Organist, Colleen Hewitt Congregational Hymns "My Life Flows on in Endless Song" "Beautiful Savior" Special Music "What A Friend We Have in Jesus" Sung by Elmo Volstad, Gene's grandchildren and great-grandchildren Readers Kris Nygaard - Psalm 104:1, 10-23, 27-28 Wendy Towne - Philippians 4: 4-9 Audrey Ludwig - Matthew 6:25-33 Eulogy by Julie Volstad Casket Bearers (Grandsons) Tomas Volstad ~ Kyle Oftedahl Nick Risacher ~ ~ ~ ~ (Friends) Dave Lee ~ Greg Fry Jeff Remiger ~ Ryan Gniffke Final Resting Place East Yellow Medicine Lutheran Cemetery Hanley Falls, Minnesota Arrangements by Lynner Funeral Home Since 1891 Clarkfield Minnesota