Duane R. Edwardson, 84, of Ellendale died Monday, August 28, 2023 in hospice care at his home surrounded by his loving family.
Born September 17, 1938, the son of Raymond and Lorraine (Johnson) Edwardson, Duane’s life began and ended in the same room in the Edwardson family farm home in Lemond Township, Steele County, Minnesota, where he lived his entire life. He was baptized and confirmed at Pontoppidan Lutheran Church.
Duane attended Berlin Country School, District #7 and graduated from Ellendale High School in 1956. Duane served in the United States Army for six months and completed his military service with three years in the National Guard.
On March 21, 1959, he married Mary Ann Hagen at Le Sueur River Lutheran Church. Together the couple farmed and milked cows for 20 years. When they quit milking, they expanded their farming operation with the purchase of additional land including his uncle’s farm.
Duane was a faithful and active member of Le Sueur River Lutheran Church, was on the board of directors for the Steele-Waseca Cooperative Electric since 2003, was treasurer of Lemond Township, and formerly served on the Steele County Board of Adjustment, FMHA Board and Farm Service Agency.
Duane was a humble man, always looking to engage people in conversation and include them in whatever he was doing. He was a man of faith, a hard working family man and cherished his friends who walked the road of life with him.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 64 years, Mary Edwardson of Ellendale; children, Sheri Berg of Owatonna, Karen (Lyle) Loge of Willmar and Alan Edwardson of Onalaska, WI; grandchildren, Christian (Jenna) Berg, Jenna (Brady) Vaith, Leah (Evan) Dyce, Britney (Josh) Juven, Mallory (Geofrey) Luzuriaga Loge and Macy Loge; great-grandchildren, Caleb Berg, Norah Berg, Alera Vaith, Arlo Vaith, Gretta Dyce, Otto Dyce, Lucas Dyce, Freya Dyce, Owen Juven, Oliver Juven and Henley Juven; sister-in-law, Phyllis Hagen of New Richland and nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Raymond and Lorraine Edwardson; in-laws, Lawrence and Evelyn Hagen; sister and brother-in-law, Betty Jean and Angus Lageson; brother-in-law, Eugene Hagen and sister-in-law, Marjorie Ann Hagen.
Visitation will be at Le Sueur River Lutheran Church, rural New Richland on Saturday, September 9th from 9:30 - 11 a.m. A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, September 9, 2023 at 11 a.m. at Le Sueur River Lutheran Church with Pastor Dan Kordahl officiating. Livestream of Duane’s service is available at https://wearelivetoday.com/duane-edwardson. Burial will be in the Le Sueur River Lutheran Cemetery.
Memorials are preferred to Le Sueur River Lutheran Church.