Harlan Boettcher of Montevideo died on Monday, February 18, 2013 at the Chippewa County - Montevideo Hospital at the age of 88.
Funeral services will be conducted on Saturday, February 23, 2013 at 2:00 P.M at St John’s Lutheran Church in rural Montevideo with Rev. Ronald Hobbie officiating. Interment will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be at the church for one hour before services on Saturday.
Harlan Fred Boettcher was born on September 1, 1924 at Montevideo, MN, the son of Paul and Adolphine “Fenie” (Weckwerth) Boettcher. He was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church of Sparta Township. He was an active member of the congregation, serving as its Sunday School superintendent for over forty years. Harlan received his education through 8th grade at District 7 with the Axness sisters as teachers. He graduated from Montevideo High School in 1941 and attended the University of Minnesota. He farmed with his father for a number of years, served as a district representative with Aid Association for Lutherans for three years, and was a career employee with the US Postal Service, first in Montevideo, then as the postmaster in Maynard until retiring in 1984. He was united in marriage to Marjorie Goehtz on March 19, 1960 in Rochester, MN. They made their home on a farm near Montevideo and enjoyed taking their children and other family members on camping trips to the western United States. As a youth, he was a 4-H member, and he served many years as a 4-H leader in adulthood. Planting trees, especially evergreens, and growing a large garden were among his lifelong pastimes. He enjoyed celebrating his German heritage at festivals in Minnesota and on trips to Germany.
He is survived by his wife, Marjorie; two children: Brian (Marie) Boettcher of Watson, MN and Susan Boettcher of Montevideo, MN; three grandchildren: Matthew, Jonathan, and CarriAnne; and a brother, Paul (Joyce) Boettcher of River Falls, WI.
Preceding him in death were his parents and a sister, Gertrude (Robert) Ehlers.