Oliver Randall

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Oliver “Ollie” D. Randall, 79
Oliver “Ollie” D. Randall, 79, of Owatonna, died on June 7, 2009 at St. Marys Hospital in Rochester.
 Oliver was born on Aug. 9, 1929 in Ellendale, Minn. He was the son of Cecil and Alma (Nyborg) Randall. He was raised in Summit Township on the family farm near Ellendale, and graduated from Ellendale High School as Valedictorian in 1947. He then went on to attend the University Of Minnesota-College Of Agriculture, in St. Paul. He was united in marriage to Margaret Nelson on Sept. 11, 1950 at the United Methodist Church in Owatonna. Oliver and Margaret met when they were 10 and 12 years old at the Geneva Methodist Church, and he was heard saying, “She is pretty cute.”  As they started their life together, Oliver worked at Josten’s as a carpenter until they bought their first farm in 1954 near Steele Center. Oliver and Margaret farmed until 1970, and in 1968, Oliver began working at the Owatonna Post Office as a mail carrier until 1995 when he retired.
He was active in his community and served as director of the Steele Center Creamery Association, Secretary for the Owatonna Day Group Creamery Board and the Somerset Township ASCS committee. Oliver also held several offices on the Rock Island Rural Telephone Company board and was a lay leader and Sunday school teacher at the Geneva Methodist Church. In 1963, he won the award for Outstanding Young Farmer. He served as President of Lemond-Somerset Farmers Union, president of the Steele County Farmers Union and treasurer of the Steele Center School Board. He was a member of the NFO, and was also on the dairy board.  Ollie was chairman of the Steele County DFL, vice president of the District DFL board and ran for state representative in 1964, 1966 and in 1968.  He was director of the Land Bank in Blooming Prairie, president of the Owatonna High School, PTA chairman of the Christian Social Concern and director of the Paul Watkins Home in Winona. Ollie later served as chairman of the Rural United Way Fund Drive, and collected monies for cancer drives and Red Cross drives. He was honored as Outstanding Senior Citizen in 2004. Ollie was a driver for Meals on Wheels, volunteered to spend time with and read to elementary school students and was a member of the Golden K Kiwanis in Owatonna. He also served on the board for the National Retired Federal Employees, (NRFE), was a member of the Eagles and the Isaac Walton League. He enjoyed bowling, and in his spare time throughout the years, he had his own bowling team, the Randall’s Rentals. Ollie was a member of the United Methodist Church in Owatonna.
He was the best dad and grandpa in the world, and loved spending time with all of his grandchildren from 1 year of age to 34 years old. His games and jokes will be treasured and passed on to our future generations.
 He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Margaret, Owatonna; son, Richard (Rosemary) Randall, Morristown, Minn.; two daughters, DeeAnn (Jack Mathison) Randall, Austin, Dawn Randall, Austin; seven grandchildren, Elizabeth Randall, Owatonna, Joshua Randall, Owatonna, Melissa (Adam Bohrer) Remme, Minnesota, Corey (Sarah Britzius) Randall, Ellendale, Dustin Remme, St. Paul, Jake (Shana Andersen) Jensen, Geneva, Andy Jensen, Ellendale. He is also survived by four great-grandchildren, Justine Randall, Owatonna, Drayton Randall, Owatonna, Kera Randall, Ellendale and Lex Randall, Ellendale; brother, Ralph (Alyce) Randall, Albert Lea; two sisters, Phai (Clifford) Trezise, Torrance, Calif., Betty Nestrud, Madelia; two brothers-in-law, Darrell (Corky) Nelson, Ellendale, Duane (Diane) Nelson, New Hampton, Iowa; sister-in-law, Lois (John Burfeind) Johnson, Wabasha; Goddaughter, Katie Wilker Barrett; and his special kitty, Pumpkin.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Cecil and Alma Randall; son, David Randall; brother-in-law, Alton Nestrud; nephew, Brad Randall; niece and goddaughter, Sheila Beaulieu; and a great-nephew, Anthony Freiheit. 
Visitation will be held at Michaelson Funeral Home in Owatonna, on Wednesday, June 10, 2009 from 4 to 8 p.m., and one hour prior to the funeral service in the church. The Funeral service will be held Thursday, June 11, 2009 at 11 a.m. at United Methodist Church, 815 E. University St., Owatonna, with Pastor Loren Olson officiating. Interment will be at the Geneva Cemetery

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