Oswald C. Lillemoe was born on May 30, 1915 in Frankfort, SD to Jens and Anna Lillemoe. He was confirmed at Bethany Lutheran Church in Brentford, SD and graduated from Brentford High School in 1933. He was united in marriage to Mary Margaret Britton on June 5, 1941 in Mt. Vernon, SD.He was a manager and line superintendent for McCabe Bros. Grain Elevator Co. in Minnesota and South Dakota. They moved to Montevideo,Mn. in 1949, where he owned and operated a turkey business and feed manufacturing business. He semi-retired in 1974, and for the past several years has been managing the Northdale Mobile Home park. He was a long time active member of Our Saviors Lutheran Church and served on several boards and committees. He was very active in the Lions club, serving as District Governor in 1974-1975, and was also awarded the Melvin Jones Fellow award for humanitarian service in Lionism. Oz had always enjoyed sports, playing both basketball and baseball. He was one of the organizers of the South Dakota State Amateur Basketball Association, and was inducted into the South Dakota Amateur Basketball Hall of Fame in 1986. Watching his grandsons' games were especially enjoyable for him. He was a member of the District 129 School Board for 12 years, and was active in Boy Scouts, both as a Cubmaster and Scoutmaster.
Oz died on December 30, 1993 at the Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar at the age of 78. He is survived by his wife - Mary Margaret; by sons - Raleigh(and wife Catherine) of Alexandria,Mn. and Jon of Las Vegas, Nv.; by grandchildren - Jennifer Lillemoe; Brett Lillemoe; Tait Lillemoe; and Heather Lillemoe; by a sister - Jeannette Bierman of Aberdeen, SD; by a brother - Kenneth Lillemoe of Aberdeen, SD; by several nieces and nephews; as well as by a host of friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents.