Oren Vellekson, formerly of Dawson, died Tuesday, November 9, 2010, at Lutheran Haven Nursing Home in Montevideo at the age of 88. Funeral was at 11:00 AM, Friday, November 12, at Grace Lutheran Church in Dawson, with Pastor Kendall Stelter officiating; son-in-law, David Hanson read the scriptures: Psalm 23, John 3:16 and Mark 4:26-32; vocalist, Dean Dallman sang "Beautiful Savior" and organist, Deb Lewis accompanied the singing of "What A Friend We Have In Jesus", "On Eagle's Wings" and "How Great Thou Art." Weldon Anderson, Lester Boraas, Jim Carlson, Wayne Johnson, Charles Pearson and Dennis Schueller were casketbearers and presentations of a Bible and the US flag were by the Oscar Lee Legion Post of Dawson at Terrace Lawn Memory Gardens in rural Montevideo. Visitation was on Friday for one hour prior to the service at the church. Oren Julian Hartman Vellekson was born August 16, 1922, at the family farm home in Lac Qui Parle Township to Oliver and Alma (Boraas) Vellekson. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith and graduated from high school in Madison in 1940. After completion of high school, Oren entered the Army infantry during WWII and was honorably discharged in 1946. On January 28,1945, he was united in marriage to Harriet (Wirth) at the Lutheran Parsonage in Dawson. To this union, 3 children were born. They resided on the family farm, where Oren had a diversified farming operation. He continued to live on the farm after Harriet passed away in1988, and in 2007, he moved to Brookside Apartments in Montevideo. He lived there until moving to Luther Haven in May of 2010. Oren's health had been failing in the past 6 months and he passed away in hospice care at Luther Haven in Montevideo on November 9, 2010, at the age of 88. Oren was very active in the community. He was on the Lac Qui Parle County Fair board, Riverside Township board, police reserve, American Legion, 40-8, among others. He enjoyed hunting and fishing in younger days and particularly liked bowling, playing regularly in leagues and traveling often to tournaments. Oren is survived by his children: Lindy Hanson and husband Dave of Excelsior, Vicki Tonn and husband, Roy of Bellingham and Donn Vellekson and wife, Nancy Ehlke of Vadnais Heights; 4 granddaughters and 7 great-grandchildren: Kimberly (Jon) Quirk and their children, Lucy and Joshua of Edina, Corissa (Curtis) Hintzman and their children, Cayden and Tyler of Maple Grove, April (Mark) Joy and their children, Henry, Isabelle and Elizabeth of London, England, and Dominie i��Duffyi�� (Adam) Whilite of Sierra Madre, California; and his special friend, Delores Baumhofer. Preceding him in death were his parents, Oliver and Alma; wife, Harriet; brother, Vernon Vellekson, and sister, Arlene Milton. Oren will be remembered as a kind, giving person and will be missed by all who knew him. Blessed be his memory.