Orvin Milo Gronseth, age 84, of Murdock, went to be with the Lord on May 14. Orvin passed away peacefully at home on the farm with his family by his side.

A celebration of life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 28, at the Willmar Assembly of God Church. A private family burial will be held at a future date at Spring Creek Lutheran Cemetery near Sunburg. The funeral service will be live-streamed on You-Tube at the Willmar Assembly of God Church. Online condolences to the family can be made at: www.petersonbrothers.com

Orvin Milo Gronseth was born at home on December 20, 1941, the son of Olaf and Mabel (Thompson) Gronseth as the oldest of two sons. He was baptized and confirmed at Spring Creek Lutheran Church in Kerkhoven Township, just down the road from their farm west of Sunburg, Minnesota. Orvin attended District #66 country school and graduated from Kerkhoven High School in 1959.

He cherished the time spent with his large number of relatives, friends, and neighbors in the rural Norwegian community. He enjoyed learning the history of the land and about his ancestors from generations before on both his mothers and fathers side, besides telling many stories.

Following high school, Orvin followed the footsteps of his uncles and enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He was stationed in San Diego, California and went on to complete his electrical training at the U.S. Naval School of Electricians Mates. He worked in the repair department at the Naval Submarine Base in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

After returning home, Orvin married Donna Lansverk on September 26, 1964. They had three daughters. They purchased a farm in the community where they both grew up, which has now been in the family for 143 years. Orvin started his own electrical business, “Gronseth Electric”. He was always ready to help out friends and neighbors when needed. On the dairy farm, they milked cows, raised Airedale puppies, goats, and other animals, and later raised beef cattle. Orvin loved farming and driving his blue Ford tractors.

Over the years Orvin served as a leader in the community. He served on the Board of Directors for the Agralite Electric Cooperative in Benson for 33 years. He loved the outdoors and worked to care for the land for future generations as he served 40 years on the Swift County Soil & Water Conservation District Board. He served on the Kerkhoven Township Board for many years and the church council of Hope Lutheran Church in Sunburg. He designed the chapel at the Spring Creek Lutheran Cemetery. He was proud to serve on the board of three non-profit organizations, including the Benson American Legion Post, the Benson Historical Society, and the Sunburg Trolls Car Club. He had a passion for history and educating the next generation.

It was in 2005 that Orvin co-founded the Sunburg Trolls Car Club, which gives donations back to the community and provides automotive scholarships. He enjoyed driving his classic cars in parades and neighborhood tours.

Orvin had an adventurous life growing up hunting, fishing, and trapping. He shared his mother’s artistic talents and enjoyed painting mountain scenery. He instilled his love of the outdoors into his children and family members. In the early years, Orvin and Donna started traveling on yearly camping trips to the oceans, mountains, and National Parks, and many hidden, historic places. Each year, they were “on the road again” making many trips out west and to Colorado to visit family.

Orvin was an antique collector. He and Donna traveled to swap meets with friends to buy, sell, and trade items as well as meet new friends around the country. He traded stories as much as antiques over the years.

Orvin valued his faith in the Lord, his family, his many friends, the freedoms in this country, fun travels and his FORDS!

Orvin went to be with the Lord on Thursday, May 14. He passed away peacefully at home on the farm with his family by his side.

He is survived by his loving wife, Donna; three daughters, Kirsten (Jeff) Ostrich, Emmy Savage, and Sarah (Barry) Bimson; and seven grandchildren, Zac (Ashley) Ostrich, Cameron Ostrich, Brita Ostrich, Adam (Ereen) Savage, Maren Savage, Luke (Kaitlyn) Savage and Tim (Kayla) Savage; besides many other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Gerald Gronseth.