Stanley C. Gronseth, 95, of Hayfield, Minn., died following a short illness with cancer Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2012, at Fieldcrest Care Center in Hayfield, where he had been a resident since 2011.

Stanley Carlton Gronseth was born Dec. 10, 1916, in Sargeant Township, Mower County, to Albert and Emma (Hanson) Gronseth. He grew up on the family farm and attended country school at District 91 schoolhouse. He farmed with his family and for other area farmers before enlisting into the U.S. Army in 1941. Stan served overseas in North Africa as a radio operator in the 899th Tank Destroyer Battalion and also saw action in Italy. Following his discharge in 1945, he returned to Sargent where he was employed at Hormel Co. in Austin for a few years.

Stan was married on Dec. 4, 1945, at his parents’ home in rural Sargent to Ellen S. Quinn. In 1947 they purchased a farm in Pleasant Valley Township, where they raised their family and farmed for more than 50 years. Mrs. Gronseth was a farmwife and homemaker and with her husband moved to Hayfield Villa in 2010. They recently celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary. Mr. Gronseth was employed for 25 years as an insurance salesman by Mower County Farmers Mutual. He was a lifelong member at Evanger Lutheran Church in Sargent, where he served on its board and was involved in the construction of the new parsonage.

Stan was a longtime member of American Legion Post 330 in Hayfield, serving as a past commander. With his wife Ellen, he placed American flags on veteran gravesites for Memorial Day services for a number of years. He served on the Mower County Soil and Conservation Board and received a Minnesota State Award for conservation. He enjoyed fishing, water skiing, deer hunting in Wyoming, playing cards in the winter, going to coffee and time spent with friends and family.

Survivors include his wife, Ellen; his daughter, LeAnn (Byron) Coller of Dodge Center, Minn.; son, Arlen (Patricia) of Rochester, Minn.; eight grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; two sisters, Francis Martin of Hayfield and Adeline Moen of Austin; two brothers, Wallace Gronseth of Rochester and James (Janice) Gronseth of rural Sargent. He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Shirley Winholt and Alice Miners; and two brothers, Archie and Charles Gronseth.

The funeral service for Stanley will be at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012, at Evanger Lutheran Church in rural Sargent, Minn. with the Rev. Dwight Dobell officiating. A committal service with military graveside honors by Hayfield American Legion Post No. 330 will follow at the church cemetery. Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday at Griffin-Gray F.H. in Stewartville, Minn., and one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday afternoon. The family suggests memorials to Evanger Lutheran Church in Sargent. Arrangements are with Griffin-Gray F.H. in Stewartville www.griffin-gray.com.