Please click on the video tribute below to view Duane's funeral and burial services.

Duane Trandem, 84, from Halstad, MN, died peacefully on Sunday evening, March 17, 2024, at home surrounded by family following a courageous battle with ALS.

Duane was born at home in Anthony Township on April 5, 1939, to Orvis and Alma (Haugan) Trandem.  He was baptized and confirmed at East Marsh River Church in Anthony Township. He attended and graduated from Halstad High School in 1957. Throughout those years he was his dad's sidekick on the farm and also helped his uncles with baling and chopping corn silage.

He was united in marriage to Mary Knudtson on July 10, 1959. They lived in rural Shelly, MN and started farming for a few years until they moved to Halstad. They had 3 daughters: Sandra, Rebecca, and Patricia.  Duane and Mary raised their daughters in Halstad.

Once they moved to Halstad, Duane worked in construction with Cletus Boeddeker and then worked at the Halstad Municipal Utilities for 30 years. He also worked for Fergus Falls Monument for 24 years. He was a member of the Halstad Rifle Club, where he was active in target and skeet shooting, a member of the volunteer fire department, and a member of the Halstad Lions Club. For several years Duane was active at the Halstad Lutheran Church as a deacon and was the sexton for the church cemeteries.

In his spare time, he enjoyed hunting, camping, and fishing, especially at the Northwest Angle and several places in Canada. He never missed a Jeopardy show, and as a family played thousands of games of Trivia.  Duane also loved bridge, pinochle, and Rook. If bored OR he found a good deal he might add on to the house, garage or maybe build a new cabin out at the farm.

Duane instilled in his daughters that community service is vital, volunteerism is imperative and helping others is the reason we are here!

He is survived by his wife, Mary; his 3 daughters and their families: Sandra (Peter) Hennum, and Kayla (Tyler Montgomery) from Bemidji, MN, Rebecca (Charles) Faruolo from Moorhead, MN, and Gabby Faruolo (Parker Nelson) from St. Paul, MN, and Patricia (Greg) Schilling from Halstad, MN, and Gracie (Seth Ditsch) from Bemidji, MN; and many nieces and nephews. He will be deeply missed, his family is thankful he can now rest and wait for our arrival. He was really good at waiting for his girls!

Duane was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Jeroma; and grandchildren, Maggie and Tate Schilling, and Kyle Hennum.

In honor of Duane, memorials can be designated to the Halstad Lutheran Church Cemetery Fund, Halstad Lions, Ethos Hospice at 4491 S Washington Street, Suite A, Grand Forks, ND 58201, or Sanford Foundation ALS Fund at P.O. Box 2010 Fargo, ND 58122 or any charity of your choice.

Funeral Service: 2:00 PM, Saturday, March 23, 2024 at Halstad Lutheran Church, Halstad, MN.

Visitation: 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, Friday, March 22, 2024 at Halstad Lutheran Church, Halstad, MN, with a prayer service to begin at 6:30 PM.

Interment: Halstad South Cemetery, Halstad, MN.

Please view our guestbook and share condolences online for the family.