Harold Dow Ogburn, Jr.

Harold D. Ogburn, Jr. was born July 28, 1921 in Winnebago, MN to Harold, Sr. and Hazel (Cotherman) Ogburn. At age two his family moved to Stony Creek, NY. He graduated in 1940 from Hadley/Luzerne High School and attended Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. In 1943, he came to Minnesota to farm with his uncle, Carl Ogburn before serving in the US Air Corps in 1944 and 45. Following the military, he returned to Stony Creek, NY where he operated the Stony Creek Dude Ranch with his parents and sister. On December 6, 1947, he married Betty Ann Heinrich at Delavan, MN. The couple lived in Stony Creek and continued with the Dude Ranch operation until moving to Minnesota in 1952 to begin farming in the Delavan area. The family moved to rural Blue Earth in 1965 where Harold farmed until retiring in 1983. In 2002, he and Betty Ann moved to Blue Earth. Harold was active in the community throughout his life, holding leadership positions in the Blue Earth Township Board, Trinity Lutheran Church, Faribault Co. Historical Society, Bar-Cott 4-H Club, Soybean Growers, and political campaigns. He was very involved with Minnesota Farm Bureau, working on committees and holding offices at the local, state, and national levels. Harold loved a good a conversation from his early years at the Dude Ranch through his retirement winters at Epworth by the Sea in St. Simon''s Island, GA. In retirement, he devoted many hours to wood working, making over 800 crosses from wood salvaged from the original Trinity Lutheran Church which were sold to benefit the Building Fund. His love of history and farming led him to being the first chairman of the Antique Machinery Show at the County Fair. He enjoyed following his grandchildren''s activities and was happiest when he had a way to make a difference in someone''s life.Harold died May 19, 2017 at the age of 95. He died just two blocks from where he was born.He is survived by his daughter, Judy (Dave) Jerde of White Bear Lake, son, Walt (Lynn) Ogburn of Stillwater and son-in-law Bob Hanson of Frost. Grandchildren, Erik (Elizabeth) & Mark (Sarah) Jerde, Amy (Chris) Jensen, Kristin Ogburn, Kelly (Tim) Flesch, and Janie & Brice (Lacey) Hanson, great-grandchildren, Lydia, Liam & Ezekiel Jerde, Zachary & Morgan Jensen, and Harrison Hanson. He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty Ann, daughter, Vickie Hanson, his parents, Harold Sr. and Hazel Ogburn, in-laws, Walt & Minnie Heinrich, sister, Shirley and her husband, Armand Gazaille, brother-in-law, Victor Heinrich, and granddaughter-in-law, Tammy Jerde. He is also survived by several cousins, including Phyllis Fall of Mankato, and nieces and nephew, Suzanne White, Michelle Kieffer & Gary Gazaille. His family would like to thank the staff of Parker Oaks for all of the loving care they gave to Harold and Betty Ann. The family requests memorials be given to the Trinity Lutheran Church Youth Fund to support their participation in the 2018 ELCA Youth Gathering.