Harlan Salem Nystrom, age 89, of Minneapolis, MN, died Tuesday, December 5, 2017, at Catholic Eldercare in Minneapolis.

Harlan, the son of Harold and Elizabeth (Fairbanks) Nystrom, was born on August 10, 1928, in White Earth, MN. He grew up on the family farm near Mahnomen where he attended grade school. Harlan continued his schooling at the Northwest School of Agriculture in Crookston, MN, before graduating from Mahnomen High School. In 1951, Harlan was united in marriage to Alice Hendrickson and they were blessed with seven children: three sons and four daughters. Harlan worked with his parents on the family farm until 1956, before moving to the Minneapolis area. In 1959, the couple moved to Fargo, ND, where Harlan continued his work with the US Postal Service. The couple stayed together until 1973 and Harlan continued on as a postal clerk until retiring in 1999, with forty-two years of service.

Along with his full-time (most often overtime) job at the Postal Service, Harlan ran a successful apartment business, owning and managing numerous buildings in the F-M area. Harlan loved sports, especially the Vikings and Twins. In his younger years, he enjoyed playing and competing as a baseball player, golfer and boxer, baseball being his favorite. Harlan was proud to watch and follow his grandchildren play Fargo Shanley basketball to high success, and always enjoyed hearing of all his grandchildren's accomplishments in the classroom, arts, and playing fields. Harlan had a strong work ethic, and admired that in others. His quick wit, fair-mindedness, and well-known generosity stayed strong throughout his life.

He is survived by his daughters: Debra (Peter) Pollard of Portland, OR, Kim (Tim) Jacobson of Fargo, ND, Joni (Scott) Larson of Fargo, ND and Heidi (Jesse) Symynkywicz of Blaine, MN; and his sons: Jeff (Lori) Nystrom of Blaine, MN, Dan (Suzanne) Nystrom of Minneapolis, MN, and Matt Nystrom of Fargo, ND; 18 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Adrienne Piche of Detroit Lakes, MN and Marilyn Agnew, Mahnomen, MN. He was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Elizabeth, and brother, Morris.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 2:00 pm on Monday, December 11, 2017, at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Mahnomen. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church.