Harold Odell Olerud

June 9, 1926 - September 14, 2015

Harold Odell Olerud passed through death into the eternal care of our Lord on Monday, September 14th at Gundersen Tweeten Care Center in Spring Grove at the age of 89 years old. Born June 9, 1926 to Halvor and Thora (Thorson) Olerud at the home farm in Spring Grove in Wilmington twp. Mrs. Alfred Thorson, Thora’s sister in law delivered Harold. He was baptized in the Trinity Lutheran Church, Spring Grove, and confirmed by Rev. Oscar Mikkelson. He attended school in the Morken School District “77 for seven years. In the 8th and 9th grade he attended public school and then quit school to go farming until 1943. He married Bernice Gilbertson in Scobie, Montana on March 27, 1948. In 1953 he purchased a farm south of Spring Grove from his father-in-law, Clarence Gilbertson where he lived and raised his children. Harold sold Funks Seed Corn for 10 years. He raised Hogs, Cattle and milked dairy cows and raised corn and oats. He bought his first Massey Ferguson combine and did corn picking until 2003. Harold owned and operated several new combines and enjoyed sharing his love for harvest by giving rides to youngsters. He enjoyed fishing in Northern Minnesota, playing cards and entertaining his family. He also enjoyed taking care of his great- grandchildren. Harold is survived by his children, Duane (Rachel) Olerud, Jeanette Olerud Page, Donna (Dave) Trehus, all of Spring Grove, MN and Daryl (Teri) Olerud of Mesa, AZ. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Todd (Patti) Olerud and Kevin (Amy) Olerud, Tara Gerard and Chad Espelien, Darcy (Quentin) Thorson, Thomas Trehus, Chase Olerud and Jessica Sorensen, and Lacey Olerud and seventeen great-grandchildren. Survivors also include a sister, Helen Hallberg of Chicago, IL and a very dear friend, Mildred Paulson Danielson of Hesper, MN. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Bernice Olerud, two sons Kenneth and Lyle Olerud, brothers, Theodore, Art and Henry Olerud and a sister Emma Stange. May God richly bless the remembrance of Harold Olerud and all who knew and loved him.