Arland Lindquist

Arland Lindquist, age 92, of Willmar, died Tuesday, February 19, at Bethesda Grand Nursing Home in Willmar.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, February 26, at the Church of St. Mary in Willmar with Fr. Steve Verhelst officiating.  Interment will be at Evergreen Cemetery near Blomkest at a later date.  Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Monday, February 25, with a 7 p.m. Knights of Columbus Rosary at Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar.  Visitation will continue one hour prior to the Mass at the church on Tuesday.  Memorials are preferred to the Alzheimer’s Association or Rice Hospice.

Arland LeRoy Lindquist was born November 11, 1926 in Lake Lillian Township, Minnesota, the son of Harry and Ruby (Eastman) Lindquist.  He attended District #82 School (a two-room schoolhouse) for four years, Blomkest School #64 for four years, and the West Central School of Agriculture in Morris for three years, graduating in 1944.

Arland farmed on the family farm until 1946 when he joined the Navy.  He received his training in San Diego, CA and was assigned to the USS Springfield CL66 and served for two years.  He then returned to the farm.  On June 25, 1949, he married Veronica “Bonnie” Stahl at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Olivia, MN.  They farmed until 1981 when Arland “retired”.   He continued to help on the farm and work construction for several years.

Arland was an avid sportsman and enjoyed hunting, fishing, basketball, waterskiing, and cross-country skiing.  He was an active participant in fast-pitch softball.  He was a member of the Pacific Fleet Championship Softball Team in 1948 while serving in the Navy and was a member of the Blomkest Sportsmen Softball Team for many years, winning two state championships. He also enjoyed photography and traveling, going on several bus tours with Bonnie.

While living on the farm, Arland was a member of St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Lake Lillian, where he sang in the choir.  He later became a member of the Church of St. Mary in Willmar, where he served as a hospitality minister and was a member of the Knights of Columbus.

He is survived by seven children: Katherine (Raymond) Baisch of Lee's Summit, MO, Dennis Lindquist of Medford OR, JoAnne (Joseph) Pedersen of Murdock, MN, Scott (Peggie) Lindquist of Maple Grove, MN, Nancy Lindquist of Willmar, MN, Patrick (Karla) Lindquist of Lake Park, MN, and Andrew Lindquist of Rosemount , MN; eleven grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren;  Also survived are a brother: Charles (and Lynne) Lindquist of Phoenix, AZ, a sister: Maxine Tatting of Hinkley, MN; and other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Bonnie in 2014; and a son, LeRoy Lindquist in 1993.