Darrel Harstad ended his struggle with cancer at the age of 73 on Wednesday, October 22, 2014 in Perham, MN. A memorial service for Darrel will be held on Thursday, October 30th at 11:00 AM, with visitation beginning at 10:00 AM at Crosspoint Alliance Church at 600 8th Street NE, Perham, MN. A graveside service will be held on Thursday at 3:00 PM for family and close friends at First Lutheran Church Cemetery in Kensington, MN.
Darrel was born in Morris, MN on August 28, 1941 to Elmer and Ellen (Brorson) Harstad. He spent his early childhood in Donnelly, MN. The family moved to Kensington, MN in 1950, where he graduated in 1959. He worked as a carpenter after high school and married KarenLee Scholtz in July of 1965. Darrel and Karen raised their family in Kensington and enjoyed family camping and working on wood crafts together. Karen and Darrel moved to the Twin Cities area in 1988 and Darrel continued to work as a finish carpenter. They retired in 2004 and purchased a U-Pick Berry Farm in Perham, MN. Darrel began his new hobby of wine making from the berries produced and enjoyed sharing his wine with his family and friends.
Darrel is survived by his two children, Christopher (Tammy) Harstad, Rochert, MN and Catherine Harstad, Abuja, Nigeria; his 3 grandchildren, Kristina (Tyson) Snyder, Johnstown, CO, Aaron (Christina) Harstad, Loveland, CO, and Mikhialo Camara (Harstad), Abuja, Nigeria; and his 3 siblings, Elvira (Raymond) Bennett, Kensington, MN, Dorothy (Don) Rontti, Loveland, CO, and Lois (Virgil) Scholtz, Perley, MN.
Darrel is predeceased in death by his wife and parents.