Stanley Lunde, age 89, of Ulen, Minnesota, died Thursday, September 30, 2010, in the Viking Manor Nursing Home, Ulen, under care of Hospice of the Red River Valley.

Stanley Maurice Lunde was born on October 2, 1920 to parents Carrie (Raun) and Severt Lunde on a farm east of Ulen. Stanley attended country school at the Braaten Town School until the eighth grade. The Lunde family lived at what was called, "The State Farm". Here Stanley and his brothers grew up by the river and skied down the banks of the river in the wintertime. They milked cows by hand and divided up the herd of 24 evenly. As young boys the Lunde boys played "kitten ball" as something fun to do after the chores were done. They also had a dream of making the farm into a nice park.
Stanley entered high school in Ulen in the ninth grade. He and his father and brothers did a lot of corn picking in those days. In high school he was involved with the Future Farmers of America and enjoyed judging cattle and played the trombone in the band. Stanley and his future bride, Eldora, attended many 4-H club meetings together at District 48. He graduated from high school in 1937. Stanley was baptized and confirmed at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church of Ulen and has been a lifetime member.
Stanley married Eldora Stende on a windy day, September 20, 1947. They lived on a farm east of Ulen and then moved into the farm home that would be theirs until 1981. Here they raised their five children: Carol, Steven, Collene, Ann and Alan. Stanley remembers starting a dairy herd of about 10-12 cows and farmed 320 acres. He sold the dairy cows in 1968. Stanley enjoyed music and played the accordion. He could even yodel. Stanley and Eldora moved across the road into a new home in 1981. Here they enjoyed many wonderful years planting seeds, selling plants and trees at the Henhouse Greenhouse. Stanley was very proud of the fact that several of his grandchildren went on to have summer jobs as gardeners and landscapers. In 1997 Stanley and Eldora celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.
Eldora passed away on November 4, 1999. Stanley continued to live on the farm and raise big gardens. It was his joy to pick fruit and vegetables and pass onto his family and friends. Stanley moved into the Park Haven Apartments in 2002. He continued helping with farm work and liked chisel plowing in the fall. He enjoyed the fellowship of friends, whist games, potluck dinners and walks through the park.
Stanley and Eldora had several foster children through the years and in 1980 three refugee children from Laos made their home at the Lunde farm until they graduated from high school. Stanley and Eldora went to the Holy Land with their daughter Ann and also enjoyed quite a bit of traveling while Eldora was a board member with the Rural Electric Association. They would take the entire family on train trips to New Orleans or plane rides to Florida. Stanley played horseshoes and was a bowler and golfer. For many years he was a member of the "Ink Spots" bowling team. He especially enjoyed one day at golf when he made a hole in one.
Stanley was a director for Ulen Co-op Oil Company and the Tri-County Elevator and was a member of the Bethlehem Church Council. He enjoyed being a June usher for several years at Bethlehem.
To sum up Stanley's life would be to say he was a most kind and gentle man who loved the soil and his family. After entering the Viking Manor after a stroke in February of 2005 he attended holiday gatherings with his family and always liked a ride in the country to check the crops. He kept up with the Twins, the grain markets and also was ready at anytime for a game of whist when his brothers made their faithful trips to the Viking Manor. Stanley received a Century Farm Award in 2006.
He is survived by his five children: Carol (Michael) Lockhart of Ulen; Steven of Fargo, ND; Collene (Ed) Anderson of Ulen; Ann (Duane) Shane of Detroit Lakes and Alan (Christine) Detroit Lakes; his 14 grandchildren: Jeffrey (Sommer) Lockhart; Jean (Robert) Schwartz; Emily (Mark) Moench; Marcus (Jennifer Troxel) Thomas Lunde; Jonathan Lunde; Seth (Randi) Anderson; Cara (Nick) Herzog; Ingrid Anderson; Rebecca Shane; Benjamin Shane; Rachel Shane; Eric Lunde and Ellie Lunde; Seven great-grandchildren: Makenna, Parker, Measha, Anistain, Kolby, Isabelle and Addi; brothers, Harold (Lorraine) Lunde and Alton (Marian) Lunde all of Lake Park, MN; sisters-in-law, Arlene Nygaard of Ulen, MN and Marilyn (Harlan) Nygaard of Gilbert, MN and several nieces and nephews.
Preceding him in death were his parents and his wife, Eldora.
Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday, October 5th at 11:00 AM in Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Ulen. Visitation will be Monday, October 4th from 5PM until the Prayer Service at 7PM at the church. Visitation will also be one prior to services at the church on Tuesday. Officiating will be Pastor Steve Dahl with Susan Green serving as pianist and the Lunde family providing special music. Pallbearers will be his 14 grandchildren and honorary pallbearers will be the staff at the Viking Manor Nursing Home.

Burial will be in North Bethlehem Lutheran Cemetery, Ulen.