Harriet Velde

Harriet Corinne Velde was born August 3, 1919, the daughter of Christian & Helga (Slotten) Cole, in Sandnes Township. She was baptized on August 24, 1919 and confirmed on May 28, 1933 in Yellow Medicine Lutheran Church in Hanley Falls. She attended school in Hanley Falls graduating in 1936. After graduating from the post graduate Marietta School and Mankato Commercial College, she worked for the Yellow Medicine County Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service in Clarkfield. Harriet was united in marriage to Gerald Jerome Velde on June 1, 1941, at Yellow Medicine Lutheran Church. To this union 2 daughters and 1 son were born. Harriet was a devoted wife, loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and friend. She was a supportive partner in their lifelong farming operation. She was a dedicated, life-long member of Yellow Medicine Lutheran Church, active in WELCA, as a Sunday School teacher, circle bible studies and helping coordinate a lefsa committee for the annual lutefisk suppers. She also started the Four Leaf Clovers 4-H club. Harriet enjoyed being with friends in the neighborhood Birthday Club, Homemakers and Red Hats. She was an excellent seamstress, sewing many wedding dresses, baptism dresses and suits. Quilts were sewn with love for all her children, grandchildren, & great-grandchildren, Mesa Children's Crises Center, Lake Shetek Ministries & WELCA charities too. Knitting and crocheting were also her hobbies. Harriet always had the coffee pot on and homemade goodies were always in overabundance to share. Countless family gatherings and picnics were held, at her organizing. She enjoyed traveling, Arizona winters, dancing and was very proud of her Norwegian heritage. Harriet passed away on Thursday, January 10, 2013, at the Clarkfield Care Center at the age of 93 years, 5 months, 7 days. She is survived by her children, Vonnie (Duane) Severson of Clarkfield; Tim (Connie) Velde of Granite Falls; Colleen (Rick) Hewitt of Granite Falls; grandchildren Grant (Becky) Velde of Granite Falls; Kelli Velde of Pipestone; Jacob (Gen) Velde of Pipestone; Amanda (Charles) Lecy of Hazel Run; Deanna Stahl, Kari (Michael) VanDenHemel, Charles (Heidi) Hewitt, Andrew (Heather) Hewitt all of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; great-grandchildren Brooke & Tyson Velde, Hunter McKinney, Emma, Zoe & Caleb Velde, Hannah, William & Seth Lecy, Morgan Stahl, Kirsten, Megan, Sydney & Christopher VanDenHemel, Benjamin Gerald & Madelyn Hewitt; sisters-in-law: Ellayne (LeRoy) Velde-Conyers of Marshall, Louise Cole of Saskatoon, Sask., Canada & Artys Cole of Ellendale; brother-in-law Leon (Gerry) Velde of Granite Falls, nieces, nephews and many friends. She was preceded in death by her husband of 70 years, Gerald in 2011; parents Christian & Helga Cole; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Tolerius & Ella (Kalberg) Velde; brothers Lawrence Cole, Roy (Cecil) Cole, Joe Cole and sister Pearl (Don) Brabender.