BLUE EARTH — Darrel Dean Hacklander, age 93, of Blue Earth, passed away Sunday, June 14, 2020, at St. Luke’s Lutheran Care Center in Blue Earth, with his family by his side.

A public visitation will be held 10-11 a.m. Saturday, June 20, 2020, at Patton Funeral Home in Blue Earth. Due to COVID-19 precautions, social distancing guidelines will be observed, and the family also strongly encourages those who attend to please wear a mask.

A private family memorial service will be held followed by private family burial at Riverside Cemetery.

Web tributes may be left at www.pattonfh.com

Darrel was born April 19, 1927, in Blue Earth, Minn., to Waldo and Lila (Gartzke) Hacklander. He attended Blue Earth Rural Country School 137 and Blue Earth High School. Darrel also completed some coursework at the University of Minnesota School of Agriculture in St. Paul.

Darrel married Geraldine Ehrich on Aug. 27, 1951, in Blue Earth. Geraldine passed on July 3, 1994.

He later married Rosie Raymond on Dec. 27, 1996. Rosie passed on April 30, 2018.

Darrel farmed for 42 years north of Blue Earth in Jo Daviess and Verona townships with his father, Waldo, and later with his son, Kyle. Darrel raised his family of six sons and daughters on these farms, all of them working together over many years to grow soybeans, corn, wheat, oats, and to raise beef cattle, hogs and chickens. Darrel and his family also worked closely with his uncle Carrol, who farmed just two miles down the road, and with his cousin, Eugene, and with his mother’s cousin, Vernon Gartzke, who lived just across the road from the farm Darrel grew up on with his parents and sisters. Darrel also grew sweet peas for the Green Giant canning factory for many years. Darrel’s children worked at Green Giant for many a summer to save money to attend college, something Darrel was very proud of. Darrel later also worked for Olson Dairy, just down the road from his family’s farm, and for Greenview, Inc. He retired in 1992.

Darrel was a member of Hope United Methodist Church, and before that was a member of Salem United Methodist (E.U.B.) Church, serving in many leadership roles including the staff-parish relations committee and Board of Stewards, and he enjoyed the Crusaders adult Sunday School class for many years.

He was also involved with the United Hospital District for 25 years, serving on the governing board from UHD’s founding in 1967 until 1992. He served as chair of the board for several years.

Darrel is survived by his children, Paul (Ashley) of Charlotte, N.C., Brian (Kay) of Minnetonka, Kyle (Theresa) of Paynesville, Lee (Mary) of Prior Lake, Laurie (Victoria) of Portland, Maine, Sarah (Roy) of Chiloquin, Ore.; stepchildren, Twyla (Tom) of Sylmar, Calif., Lee (Juanita) of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada; sisters, Betty Hulsebus of Blue Earth, and Gail (Don) Nuessmeier of Gaylord; 12 grandchildren, Greg, Elisabeth, Colin, Caitlyn, Connor, Landry, Chantil, Logen, Jordan, Katie, Bella and Nicholas; four great-grandchildren, Chloe, Carson, Jonah and Sophia; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Geraldine; second wife, Rosie; stepchild, Arthur; grandson, Alex Hartkopf; son-in-law, Gary Ring; and brother-in-law, Harvey Hulsebus.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to UHD Hospice.

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