Hartley Alden
DOUGHERTY — Hartley Alden, 86, of Dougherty, died Thursday (May 29, 2008) at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City.
Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, June 2, at West Fork United Methodist Church, 2200 Tulip Ave. in Sheffield, with Pastor Elsa Lawry presiding. Interment will be at West Fork Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. today at Retz-Grarup Funeral Home, 203 Maple St. in Sheffield.
Hartley Albert Alden was born to Floyd and Elsie (Hafermann) Alden on Nov. 14, 1921, near Latimer. He joined brothers Kenneth and Dale and one sister, Irma, with sister, Selma, born eight years later.
Hartley and siblings were the 10th generation of John and Priscilla Alden who came to America on the Mayflower.
In 1929 the family moved to the farm a quarter mile west of Dougherty. Three years later his mother died of tuberculosis. Fortunately, the Alden children were kept together on the Dougherty farm where Hartley continued to live until he got married.
As a boy, Hartley and his brothers loved the creek that ran through the farm. Besides swimming in the summer and skating in the winter, at age eight Hartley began his lifelong passion for running trap lines along that creek. He trapped and sold the furs for more than 70 years and could tell stories about it for hours.
Thanks to the influence and tender caring of his brother Kenneth and sister Irma, Hartley completed his schooling through the eighth grade and attended church and Sunday school at what is now West Fork United Methodist Church. Ken also helped Hartley and Dale learn the farming business and get started on their own.
Dale's future wife, Maxine, introduced Hartley to her friend, Dorothy Tweed, at the Mason City skating rink in 1945. They were married Jan. 26, 1946, in Trinity Lutheran Church in Mason City by Rev. Alvin Rogness.
In January 1947 they moved to their current home, purchasing the farm for $100 per acre. It did not have a house yet, so Hartley built a 10' by 20' house to live in while he moved a schoolhouse to the acreage and remodeled it for his family.
Their first child was born while they lived in what would soon become the brooder house. Later the brooder house served as a playhouse for the children and then became Hartley's trapping shed.
Hartley and Dorothy had four children, Barbara, Holly, Janet and David, each born three years apart.
He worked hard to improve his homestead by planting trees, constructing buildings and cement yards for his livestock, and pattern tiling his farmland. He was passionate about farming, but even more passionate about his family.
He chose hobbies which could include his children and grandchildren as much as possible.
In 1964, he began his annual treks to Canada to fish and instilled the love of fishing in most of his grandchildren. Some of the Alden family's most cherished memories are from those fishing trips.
Hartley farmed with the help of Marvin Crooks and later Doug O'Connor and son David.
He retired from his farming operation in 1984 when David took over the business. He still loved to help in any way he could until 2006 when he suffered a stroke.
He died Thursday, May 29, from complications of a hip fracture.
Hartley didn't like to be the center of attention, quietly going about his business.
Besides farming, fishing and trapping he enjoyed reading and watching Westerns on television.
He was a lifelong member of the West Fork Church. His wisdom about life, kind heart and gentle spirit will be sorely missed by family and friends.
Hartley is survived by Dorothy, his wife of 62 years; sister, Selma Graham; children, Barbara (Dean) Hutchison, Holly (Tom) FitzSimmons, Janet (Ray) Wierson and David (Kathy) Alden; grandchildren, Todd (Jennifer) Hutchison, Amy (Marty Wolske) Hutchison, Paul (Susan) Hutchison, Julian and Colin Eighmy, Scott Wierson, Jennifer (Lee) Smith, and Jeff (Kate) Wierson; seven great-grandchildren and many other relatives.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Kenneth and Dale; sister Irma Riggins and her husband Worth; and grandson Roger Samuel Alden.
Retz-Grarup Funeral Home, 641-892-4241
DOUGHERTY — Hartley Alden, 86, of Dougherty, died Thursday (May 29, 2008) at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City.
Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, June 2, at West Fork United Methodist Church, 2200 Tulip Ave. in Sheffield, with Pastor Elsa Lawry presiding. Interment will be at West Fork Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. today at Retz-Grarup Funeral Home, 203 Maple St. in Sheffield.
Hartley Albert Alden was born to Floyd and Elsie (Hafermann) Alden on Nov. 14, 1921, near Latimer. He joined brothers Kenneth and Dale and one sister, Irma, with sister, Selma, born eight years later.
Hartley and siblings were the 10th generation of John and Priscilla Alden who came to America on the Mayflower.
In 1929 the family moved to the farm a quarter mile west of Dougherty. Three years later his mother died of tuberculosis. Fortunately, the Alden children were kept together on the Dougherty farm where Hartley continued to live until he got married.
As a boy, Hartley and his brothers loved the creek that ran through the farm. Besides swimming in the summer and skating in the winter, at age eight Hartley began his lifelong passion for running trap lines along that creek. He trapped and sold the furs for more than 70 years and could tell stories about it for hours.
Thanks to the influence and tender caring of his brother Kenneth and sister Irma, Hartley completed his schooling through the eighth grade and attended church and Sunday school at what is now West Fork United Methodist Church. Ken also helped Hartley and Dale learn the farming business and get started on their own.
Dale's future wife, Maxine, introduced Hartley to her friend, Dorothy Tweed, at the Mason City skating rink in 1945. They were married Jan. 26, 1946, in Trinity Lutheran Church in Mason City by Rev. Alvin Rogness.
In January 1947 they moved to their current home, purchasing the farm for $100 per acre. It did not have a house yet, so Hartley built a 10' by 20' house to live in while he moved a schoolhouse to the acreage and remodeled it for his family.
Their first child was born while they lived in what would soon become the brooder house. Later the brooder house served as a playhouse for the children and then became Hartley's trapping shed.
Hartley and Dorothy had four children, Barbara, Holly, Janet and David, each born three years apart.
He worked hard to improve his homestead by planting trees, constructing buildings and cement yards for his livestock, and pattern tiling his farmland. He was passionate about farming, but even more passionate about his family.
He chose hobbies which could include his children and grandchildren as much as possible.
In 1964, he began his annual treks to Canada to fish and instilled the love of fishing in most of his grandchildren. Some of the Alden family's most cherished memories are from those fishing trips.
Hartley farmed with the help of Marvin Crooks and later Doug O'Connor and son David.
He retired from his farming operation in 1984 when David took over the business. He still loved to help in any way he could until 2006 when he suffered a stroke.
He died Thursday, May 29, from complications of a hip fracture.
Hartley didn't like to be the center of attention, quietly going about his business.
Besides farming, fishing and trapping he enjoyed reading and watching Westerns on television.
He was a lifelong member of the West Fork Church. His wisdom about life, kind heart and gentle spirit will be sorely missed by family and friends.
Hartley is survived by Dorothy, his wife of 62 years; sister, Selma Graham; children, Barbara (Dean) Hutchison, Holly (Tom) FitzSimmons, Janet (Ray) Wierson and David (Kathy) Alden; grandchildren, Todd (Jennifer) Hutchison, Amy (Marty Wolske) Hutchison, Paul (Susan) Hutchison, Julian and Colin Eighmy, Scott Wierson, Jennifer (Lee) Smith, and Jeff (Kate) Wierson; seven great-grandchildren and many other relatives.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Kenneth and Dale; sister Irma Riggins and her husband Worth; and grandson Roger Samuel Alden.
Retz-Grarup Funeral Home, 641-892-4241
Hartley Alden
DOUGHERTY — Hartley Alden, 86, of Dougherty, died Thursday (May 29, 2008) at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City.
Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, June 2, at West Fork United Methodist Church, 2200 Tulip Ave. in Sheffield, with Pastor Elsa Lawry presiding. Interment will be at West Fork Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. today at Retz-Grarup Funeral Home, 203 Maple St. in Sheffield.
Hartley Albert Alden was born to Floyd and Elsie (Hafermann) Alden on Nov. 14, 1921, near Latimer. He joined brothers Kenneth and Dale and one sister, Irma, with sister, Selma, born eight years later.
Hartley and siblings were the 10th generation of John and Priscilla Alden who came to America on the Mayflower.
In 1929 the family moved to the farm a quarter mile west of Dougherty. Three years later his mother died of tuberculosis. Fortunately, the Alden children were kept together on the Dougherty farm where Hartley continued to live until he got married.
As a boy, Hartley and his brothers loved the creek that ran through the farm. Besides swimming in the summer and skating in the winter, at age eight Hartley began his lifelong passion for running trap lines along that creek. He trapped and sold the furs for more than 70 years and could tell stories about it for hours.
Thanks to the influence and tender caring of his brother Kenneth and sister Irma, Hartley completed his schooling through the eighth grade and attended church and Sunday school at what is now West Fork United Methodist Church. Ken also helped Hartley and Dale learn the farming business and get started on their own.
Dale's future wife, Maxine, introduced Hartley to her friend, Dorothy Tweed, at the Mason City skating rink in 1945. They were married Jan. 26, 1946, in Trinity Lutheran Church in Mason City by Rev. Alvin Rogness.
In January 1947 they moved to their current home, purchasing the farm for $100 per acre. It did not have a house yet, so Hartley built a 10' by 20' house to live in while he moved a schoolhouse to the acreage and remodeled it for his family.
Their first child was born while they lived in what would soon become the brooder house. Later the brooder house served as a playhouse for the children and then became Hartley's trapping shed.
Hartley and Dorothy had four children, Barbara, Holly, Janet and David, each born three years apart.
He worked hard to improve his homestead by planting trees, constructing buildings and cement yards for his livestock, and pattern tiling his farmland. He was passionate about farming, but even more passionate about his family.
He chose hobbies which could include his children and grandchildren as much as possible.
In 1964, he began his annual treks to Canada to fish and instilled the love of fishing in most of his grandchildren. Some of the Alden family's most cherished memories are from those fishing trips.
Hartley farmed with the help of Marvin Crooks and later Doug O'Connor and son David.
He retired from his farming operation in 1984 when David took over the business. He still loved to help in any way he could until 2006 when he suffered a stroke.
He died Thursday, May 29, from complications of a hip fracture.
Hartley didn't like to be the center of attention, quietly going about his business.
Besides farming, fishing and trapping he enjoyed reading and watching Westerns on television.
He was a lifelong member of the West Fork Church. His wisdom about life, kind heart and gentle spirit will be sorely missed by family and friends.
Hartley is survived by Dorothy, his wife of 62 years; sister, Selma Graham; children, Barbara (Dean) Hutchison, Holly (Tom) FitzSimmons, Janet (Ray) Wierson and David (Kathy) Alden; grandchildren, Todd (Jennifer) Hutchison, Amy (Marty Wolske) Hutchison, Paul (Susan) Hutchison, Julian and Colin Eighmy, Scott Wierson, Jennifer (Lee) Smith, and Jeff (Kate) Wierson; seven great-grandchildren and many other relatives.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Kenneth and Dale; sister Irma Riggins and her husband Worth; and grandson Roger Samuel Alden.
Retz-Grarup Funeral Home, 641-892-4241
DOUGHERTY — Hartley Alden, 86, of Dougherty, died Thursday (May 29, 2008) at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City.
Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, June 2, at West Fork United Methodist Church, 2200 Tulip Ave. in Sheffield, with Pastor Elsa Lawry presiding. Interment will be at West Fork Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. today at Retz-Grarup Funeral Home, 203 Maple St. in Sheffield.
Hartley Albert Alden was born to Floyd and Elsie (Hafermann) Alden on Nov. 14, 1921, near Latimer. He joined brothers Kenneth and Dale and one sister, Irma, with sister, Selma, born eight years later.
Hartley and siblings were the 10th generation of John and Priscilla Alden who came to America on the Mayflower.
In 1929 the family moved to the farm a quarter mile west of Dougherty. Three years later his mother died of tuberculosis. Fortunately, the Alden children were kept together on the Dougherty farm where Hartley continued to live until he got married.
As a boy, Hartley and his brothers loved the creek that ran through the farm. Besides swimming in the summer and skating in the winter, at age eight Hartley began his lifelong passion for running trap lines along that creek. He trapped and sold the furs for more than 70 years and could tell stories about it for hours.
Thanks to the influence and tender caring of his brother Kenneth and sister Irma, Hartley completed his schooling through the eighth grade and attended church and Sunday school at what is now West Fork United Methodist Church. Ken also helped Hartley and Dale learn the farming business and get started on their own.
Dale's future wife, Maxine, introduced Hartley to her friend, Dorothy Tweed, at the Mason City skating rink in 1945. They were married Jan. 26, 1946, in Trinity Lutheran Church in Mason City by Rev. Alvin Rogness.
In January 1947 they moved to their current home, purchasing the farm for $100 per acre. It did not have a house yet, so Hartley built a 10' by 20' house to live in while he moved a schoolhouse to the acreage and remodeled it for his family.
Their first child was born while they lived in what would soon become the brooder house. Later the brooder house served as a playhouse for the children and then became Hartley's trapping shed.
Hartley and Dorothy had four children, Barbara, Holly, Janet and David, each born three years apart.
He worked hard to improve his homestead by planting trees, constructing buildings and cement yards for his livestock, and pattern tiling his farmland. He was passionate about farming, but even more passionate about his family.
He chose hobbies which could include his children and grandchildren as much as possible.
In 1964, he began his annual treks to Canada to fish and instilled the love of fishing in most of his grandchildren. Some of the Alden family's most cherished memories are from those fishing trips.
Hartley farmed with the help of Marvin Crooks and later Doug O'Connor and son David.
He retired from his farming operation in 1984 when David took over the business. He still loved to help in any way he could until 2006 when he suffered a stroke.
He died Thursday, May 29, from complications of a hip fracture.
Hartley didn't like to be the center of attention, quietly going about his business.
Besides farming, fishing and trapping he enjoyed reading and watching Westerns on television.
He was a lifelong member of the West Fork Church. His wisdom about life, kind heart and gentle spirit will be sorely missed by family and friends.
Hartley is survived by Dorothy, his wife of 62 years; sister, Selma Graham; children, Barbara (Dean) Hutchison, Holly (Tom) FitzSimmons, Janet (Ray) Wierson and David (Kathy) Alden; grandchildren, Todd (Jennifer) Hutchison, Amy (Marty Wolske) Hutchison, Paul (Susan) Hutchison, Julian and Colin Eighmy, Scott Wierson, Jennifer (Lee) Smith, and Jeff (Kate) Wierson; seven great-grandchildren and many other relatives.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Kenneth and Dale; sister Irma Riggins and her husband Worth; and grandson Roger Samuel Alden.
Retz-Grarup Funeral Home, 641-892-4241
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