Oftelie, Stanley Alfred

Stanley Alfred Oftelie, 84, of Amana, formerly of Grand Rapids, Minn. and Decorah, Iowa, died peacefully Thursday, May 26, 2011, in his home. Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, May 30, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Walford. The Rev. David Mosher will officiate. Friends may visit with the family at the church after 1 p.m. Monday. Arrangements entrusted to Iowa Cremation.

Survivors include three children, Richard (Linda) of Aurora, Minn., Becky (Ralph) Lewis of Amana, and James (Sara) of Ames; eight grandchildren, Jessica, Bonnie Belle, Erin and Daniel Oftelie, David Lewis, Sarah (Brent) Morrison and Shana (Sheldon) Strimple; one great-grandchild, Tristin Trey Strimple; a brother-in-law, George Mudrovich of Wausaw, Wis.; and a sister-in-law, Jane Oftelie of Grand Rapids, Minn.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Sally Joan (Erskine) Oftelie; his parents; and his siblings, Tom and his wife, Helen Oftelie, Margorie Mudrovich and Robert Oftelie.

Stanley Alfred Oftelie was born Nov. 8, 1926, in Fergus Falls, Minn., the son of Halvor and Ida (Weiby) Oftelie. He was a graduate of Grand Rapids Senior High School. He was proud to have served his country in the United States Army during World War II in the Pacific Theatre. He was united in marriage to Sally Joan Erskine on July 22, 1950, in Grand Rapids, Minn.

He began work at his family's Gambles Hardware store in Grand Rapids. He later became a franchise manager for the Gambles organization, and in 1968 he purchased the Gambles Hardware store in Decorah. He later sold the business and began a career selling Farm Bureau and later Aflac insurance. Following retirement, he and Sally enjoyed vacationing in Texas, South Dakota and Norway.

Stan was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Walford, the Luren Norwegian Men's Choir in Decorah, and the Telelaget Norwegian American Historical Society. He was an accomplished musician and enjoyed playing piano and singing. He also enjoyed playing bridge, fishing and researching his family's history. Stan's family was his first priority, and he was very proud of his children and grandchildren.

Memorial donations in Stan's honor may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church in Walford.

Please leave a message, tribute or memory to the Oftelie family on the webpage, under Obituaries.