Donald Oerter

DONALD EUGENE OERTER was born May 11, 1931 to Martin and Anna (Pedersen) Oerter in Hendricks, Minnesota. He was the youngest of four children and grew up on various farms in southwest Minnesota. Donald was baptized and confirmed at Danebod Lutheran Church in Tyler. He attended country school and then began farming with his father. He later met Delores Schmidt and the couple was united in marriage on September 1, 1951 at the Balaton United Methodist Church parsonage. Their union was blessed with four children; Michael, Diane, Susan, and Darrell, and 63 years of marriage together. The couple raised livestock and did grain farming side by side on their farms near Arco, Minnesota.

On March 25, 2015, Donald had a hip replaced at Avera Hospital Marshall, Minnesota. Following a decline in his health, Don entered the care of Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota on April 18, 2015. He died there on Saturday, April 25, 2015 at the age of 83 years.

Donald was a member of Bethany Lutheran Church in Arco, Minnesota. Donald had served on various boards in the area including: Arco Elevator, Yellow Medicine Watershed, FSA, Lincoln County Planning and Zoning Committee, Arco Sportsman’s Club, and Buffalo Ridge Two Cylinder Club – BRTCC. Donald will be remembered as a person that really enjoyed people. He enjoyed visiting and coffee time with his friends. He enjoyed fishing, woodworking, old tractors, had a love for animals, and especially the time spent with grandchildren and family.

Donald will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Delores Oerter of Tyler, Minnesota; three children, Diane (Todd) Johnson of Pelican Rapids, Minnesota; Susan (Pat) Williams of Chanhassen, Minnesota, and Darrell (Bernice) Oerter of Tyler, Minnesota; nine grandchildren, Cory, Troy, Amy, Stacy, Mandy, Jeffrey, Dominic, Candice, Lucas and ten great grandchildren; sister, Althea Smith of Big Stone City, South Dakota, nieces, nephews, family and friends. Donald was preceded in death by his son, Michael; parents, Martin and Anna; brother, Ervin Oerter; and a sister, Gladys Oerter.

Blessed and eternal be his memory.