Archie Froland, of Clarkfield, died Friday, February 3, 2017 at the Clarkfield Care Center at the age of 89.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 11, 2017 at 11:00 am at Clarkfield Lutheran Church in Clarkfield. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Visitation will be held on Friday, February 10, 2017 from 5-7 PM at Anderson-TeBeest Funeral Home in Montevideo and will continue one hour prior to services at the church.
Archie Ordell Froland was born on June 29, 1927 in Swede Prairie Township, Yellow Medicine County to Olaf and Blanche (Christensen) Froland and lived his whole life in the Clarkfield area. He attended country school in the early years and graduated from Clarkfield High School in 1945. Archie was a heavy equipment operator for a period of time and then became a farmer, an occupation/lifestyle he enjoyed and maintained the rest of his working life. He served the United States Army with the military police from 1950 to 1952 including time spent in Japan and Korea. Archie married Marlys Anderson on October 4, 1952 at Clarkfield Lutheran Church. They had three children: Wayne, Steven and Debra.
When not working the farm or tending to the livestock Archie could be found most often searching for, restoring, working around, and talking about his collection of antique cars, tractors, army jeeps and horse drawn machinery. Archie and Marlys enjoyed numerous day trips with their friends in their Model A’s. He very much enjoyed sharing his passion for these classic cars and giving rides to his grandchildren. Archie also was a wonderful musician playing accordion, organ and piano. He would often share his music, mostly old time music, with family and friends. Archie was a long time member of Clarkfield Lutheran Church and an active member of the Clarkfield American Legion Post 169 for 50 years. In 2016, the Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs of the Republic of South Korea presented Archie, along with other veterans, a Peace Medal honoring Korean War Veterans.
Archie is survived by his wife, Marlys; his children: Wayne Froland, Lansdale, PA, Steven Froland, Yorba Linda, CA, and Debra (Jim) Waller, Clarkfield, MN; grandchildren: Kyle Froland, Cory Froland, Darrick (Nikki) Waller, Nicholas (Kari) Waller, Jennifer (Bryn) Homuth, Ruth (Kade) Wells, and Nathan (Bekah) Waller; great-grandchildren: Elliott, Isaac, Ian, Daniel, Emma, and Adeleine; brothers: Ronald (Maryan) Froland, Granite Falls and Darrel (Myra) Froland, Littleton, CO; sisters: Donna Olson, Granite Falls, and Janice (Bob) Nelson, Dawson; sisters-in-law: Rachel Froland, Montevideo and Bernice (Gene) Moseng, Montevideo and brothers-in-law, Arden (Pat) Anderson, Montevideo and Merlyn Brown, Clarkfield; as well as other extended family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sister, Nola Edwards and a brother Wendell Froland; brothers-in-law: George Edwards, Kermit Olson, and Gordon Anderson; and sister-in-law, Dorothy Brown.