Duane Syverson, 70

Duane Harris Syverson, 70, Battle Lake, died Sunday, September 18, 2011 at Diamond Willow Assisted Living in Alexandria.

Duane was born October 25, 1940 in Wadena, the son of Ralph and Ethel (Severson) Syverson. He was baptized and confirmed in the Folden Lutheran Church. Duane attended country school by Almora and graduated from Henning High School in 1959.

He worked for Rath Packing Co. and the John Deere Plant, both in Waterloo, Iowa, and then the Auto Con Industries in St. Paul before starting with the Otter Tail Power Company in Fergus Falls for 25 years, retiring in 2002. For awhile Duane drove a van and several people rode with him to Fergus Falls where he would drop them at each place where they worked.

Duane met Shirley Peterson of Garfield at the Blue Horizon Ballroom near Perham. On December 22, 2001 Duane and Shirley were married and resided in Battle Lake.

Duane and Shirley traveled to Alaska, Nashville, TN, Branson, MO, Washington, D.C., Niagara Falls, Medora, ND, Butte, MT, Seattle, WA, Canada and the Canadian Rockies, which they both enjoyed. Host Fest in Minot, ND two times and seeing Charlie Pride and Daniel O’Donnell was a real favorite for Duane. They also attended several theatrical productions in Alexandria and the Twin Cities area as well as one- and two-day trips to Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan and in Minnesota.

During his retirement, he volunteered for three and one half years at the Battle Lake Good Samaritan Center. He served as a helper to push men in wheelchairs to the lobby area where they watched DVD documentaries. He also enjoyed being with Shirley when she did Sensory on Tuesdays. He became very special to two of the female residents. One of the ladies asked Shirley one day after he moved to the care facility, “Where is Duane?” She also suffers from Parkinson’s and is hard to understand, but those three words were just as plain as day.

Duane was an avid dancer and even danced at the care facilities as long as he was able. He was a great downhill skier and loved fishing and hunting. Duane collected several Beanie Babies. He enjoyed feeding and watching the birds. Riding motorcycle was another favorite pastime of his, which he and Shirley enjoyed doing together. He was a very particular carpenter, and was also always concerned about his appearance and his hair style. He was a very kind, loving, compassionate person and will be dearly missed by his loving wife, daughters, family and friends.

Duane is survived by his wife, Shirley; his two daughters and families, Laurie (Chad) Gearey, Ashley and Megan of Shakopee and Amy (Brett) Hallberg, Ian, Alicia and Isaac of Henning; one sister, Rosalea (Bill) Anderson of Garfield; several nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews; three stepchildren, Steve (Gini) Velde of Parkers Prairie, Julie Propst of Battle Lake and Jon (Steph) Velde of Carlos; six step-grandchildren, John (Sara) Skoglund of Miltona, Chris Velde of Parkers Prairie, Andrew (Carrie Hanson) Velde of Alexandria, Rachel (Michael Wunderlich) Propst of Ray, ND and Katlyn and Kylie Velde of Carlos; two step-great-grandchildren, Peyton and Brianna Skoglund of Miltona; sister-in-law, Betty Schlosser of Miltona; brother-in-law, Ron (Barb) Schlosser of Butte, MT, and two nephews and one niece in Montana.

God bless the memory of Duane Harris Syverson.

Funeral services were held September 23 at First Lutheran Church in Battle Lake with the Rev. Jake Dyrhaug officiating. Burial was at Elmo Lutheran Cemetery in Parkers Prairie.

Arrangements are with Glende-Nilson Funeral Home in Battle Lake; www.GlendeNilson.com.

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