FAIRMONT — Funeral services for Donald L. Oberg, 83, of rural Fairmont, will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017, at Lakeview Funeral Home in Fairmont. Burial will follow the service in the Center Chain Cemetery, rural Fairmont.

Donald passed away Friday morning, Feb. 10, 2017, at his home. Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017, at he Lakeview Funeral Home in Fairmont and one hour prior to services Thursday at the church. Lakeview Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Fairmont is assisting the family with arrangements.

Donald Leslie Oberg was born Nov. 13, 1933, in Pipestone, Minn., to Leslie and Mildred (Carlson) Oberg. As an infant, Donald was baptized at Lake Wilson Methodist Church near Slayton, Minn., where he was also later confirmed. Donald grew up on the family farm near Lake Wilson, attending Murray County District School #72 through the eighth grade and then attending Lake Wilson High School, where he graduated as the class valedictorian in 1951. While in high school, he was active in football and basketball.

Following his high school graduation, Donald attended Hamline University, where he was a member of Pi Gamma Mu, the president of Intramurals, and an employee in food services. Donald also played college basketball and ran track his freshman year. Donald studied a semester at American University in Washington, D.C., before graduating from Hamline in 1955.

On July 19, 1963, Donald was united in marriage to Janice Porter at the United Methodist Church in Fairmont. The couple lived in the Lake Wilson area until 1970; they then moved to an acreage near Fairmont. In 1979, they built a home together in Silver Lake Township. Donald and Janice were blessed with five children: Todd, Tanya, Tricia, Trent and Trynda. Donald farmed in both the Lake Wilson and Fairmont areas before working for Stokely, C.H. Gould, Rosen’s Inc., Minnesota Mark IV and Railway Motors. Donald held these positions before his career of 25 years with Arts Way Manufacturing in Armstrong, Iowa. He retired on May 2, 2003.

After retirement, he worked for Green View as a substitute caretaker for the I-90 Blue Earth area rest stop until his health deteriorated.

From a young age, faith was extremely important to Donald. He quickly found his ability to help lead and became active in various committees and councils. He served as the President of the Southwest District for the Methodist Older Youth Council and it was through that membership that he was introduced to a young lady, from Granada, who later became his wife. Throughout his life, he stayed an active member and held numerous positions within the church, including: Sunday school teacher, youth leader, usher, secretary of the church council, lay leader and lay speaker, as well as board member and President of the Southwest District Methodist Men’s Retreat. Don was a member of the Fairmont United Methodist Church for 33 years. For the past four years, he was a member of Hope United Methodist Church in Blue Earth.

Donald was not only faithful to his religion but also to giving back to the community. He served as a Boy Scout Committee member of Troop 56 and was a Webelo leader of Pack 57. Donald was also on the Fairmont Dollars for Scholars board for 30 years, and served as President for six years. For his service, he was honored to receive the Dollars for Scholars National Honor in 1999.

In his spare time, Donald enjoyed working with livestock, especially sheep, and working on his garden and lawn. He loved the smell of fresh-plowed soil and mowed grass. He was concerned with rescuing greyhounds from the track and provided homes for three of them since 1996.

Some of his fondest memories include spending time with his family at Hide-Away Resort on Upper Hay Lake and simply watching his children and grandchildren grow and mature. He lived life by the motto of: Do your best and don’t ask someone to do a task you won’t do yourself.

Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Janice Oberg of Fairmont; children, Dr. Todd Oberg and his wife, Robin, of Jacksonville, Ill., Tanya Oberg of Rochester, Minn., Tricia Oberg of Eagan, Minn., Trent Oberg and his wife, Stephanie, of Morris, Minn., and Trynda Kroneman and her husband, Peter, of Rochester, Minn.; grandchildren, Carissa and Evan Oberg of Morris, Minn., and Gretchen Kroneman and her expected sibling of Rochester, Minn.; brothers-in-law, Wayland Porter and his wife, Sue, of Woodbury, Minn., and Dennis Lee and his wife, Andrea, of Eagle Grove, Iowa; special family friends, Bev Baker and her husband, Bill, of Cottage Grove, Minn.; many nephews, nieces, other extended family and countless friends, including great neighbor and friend, Larry Brockman.

Donald was preceded in death by his parents, Leslie and Mildred Oberg; father-and-mother-in law, Wayland and Kate Porter; sister, M. Joan Lee; brother and-sister-in-law, Kenneth and Lois Oberg; brother-in-law, James Porter; family friend, Beth Wiese; and other relatives.

The family requests memorials be given in Don’s name to Hope United Methodist Church Missions, Fairmont Chapter of Dollars for Scholars, Friends of Cedar Point Boy Scout Camp, and Rochester Mayo Clinic Medical Research.

www.lakeviewfuneralhome.net

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