Einar O. Lundin

Einar O. Lundin, age 97, of Litchfield, passed away on Sunday, November 24, 2024, at Meeker Memorial Hospital in Litchfield. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, November 30, 2024, at 11:30 a.m. at First Lutheran Church in Litchfield, with Rev. Tom Evenson officiating. Interment will follow at Lake Ripley Cemetery in Litchfield. A visitation will take place on Friday evening, November 29, 2024, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., and one hour prior to the service on Saturday morning from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., at First Lutheran Church in Litchfield. The Johnson Funeral Home in Dassel is handling funeral arrangements. Einar O. Lundin, the son of Albin and Myrtle (Ahlstedt) Lundin, was born on October 6, 1927, in the family farmhouse in Greenleaf Township, Meeker County, Minnesota. He was baptized at First Lutheran Church on November 18, 1927, and confirmed there on May 24, 1942. Einar was a lifelong member of First Lutheran Church, where he actively participated in church life, including serving on the church council. He attended District #59, a one-room schoolhouse known as the Little Red Schoolhouse, through the 8th grade. Einar answered the call to serve his country and enlisted in the Minnesota National Guard, where he served from May 8, 1947, until his discharge on January 4, 1951, achieving the rank of Sergeant. On June 25, 1950, Einar was united in marriage to Delores Johnson at First Lutheran Church in Litchfield. The couple made their home on the Lundin family farm in Greenleaf Township, where Einar dedicated himself to farming. He began his career with horse-drawn equipment and later transitioned to the use of John Deere two-cylinder tractors. Einar milked dairy cattle until 1977 and continued farming for the rest of his life. Einar and Delores enjoyed traveling to many places, including Arizona, Colorado, Alaska, Canada and a very special trip to his family’s homeland of Sweden. Einar and Delores created the beloved John Deere Days, which has been hosted at their farm for 27 years. In the community, he served on the Consumer Co-op Board of Directors, the G.A.R. Board, and the Greenleaf Township Board. Einar’s love for his farm was matched only by his creative talent. He enjoyed tinkering with mechanical objects and could fix almost anything. He was an avid woodworker, and over the years, he crafted custom oak furniture, nightstands, baptismal boxes, playhouses, and treehouses—many of which were made from the oak trees that grew on his farm. His craftsmanship was also reflected in the small wooden table settings he made for each holiday, a personal touch that brought warmth and charm to every celebration. Beyond his work in the fields and his workshop, Einar was a man who loved people. He was known for his generosity, always willing to lend a hand, share a story, or simply sit and talk with family and friends. He loved animals, especially his farm cats and the swans on the lake, which he drove out to see every day. Above all, Einar cherished his family. He adored his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and his love for them was unwavering. He will be deeply missed by all who were fortunate enough to know him. Einar is survived by his children, Harold (Marilyn) Lundin of Litchfield, Elaine (James) Lenhard of Litchfield, and Judy (David) Walstad of Chanhassen; five grandchildren: Lisa (Chris) Maas, Angie (Jared) Kopplow, Sara (Chris) Wilke, Alexis (Baron) Walstad, and Kelsey (Joe) Beisman; and nine great-grandchildren: Ellie (fiancé, Luke), Isaac, Amelia, Nora, Kysten, Melayna, Arie, Owen, and Wyatt. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Delores; grandson, Joel Lenhard; great-granddaughter, Tenley Wilke; his parents, Albin and Myrtle Lundin; his brother, John Lundin; his sister, Janet Lundin; his brother, Karl Lundin; and an infant brother.

Einar O. Lundin

October 6, 1927 - November 24, 2024