Duane Stanley Farrell

Duane Farrell age 80 of Balaton, MN died Sunday, January 9, 2011 at the Parkview Manor in Ellsworth, MN. Services will be 1:30 PM Wednesday, January 12, 2011 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Tracy, MN. Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 8:00 PM Tuesday, January 11, 2011 at the Almlie Funeral Home in Balaton, MN, with rosary at 4:00 PM and prayer service at 7:00 PM. Visitation will continue one hour prior to service at church on Wednesday. A luncheon will follow immediately after service. Internment will take place in the spring. Arrangements are being handled by the Almlie Funeral Home of Balaton. Duane Stanley Farrell was born June 15, 1930 to John C. and Minnie (Bolsover) Farrell in Slayton, MN, Murray County. He was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic faith. Duane attended Country School District #4, when his family lived on a farm east of Slayton in Skandia Township. He then attended District #20, before graduating from Balaton High School in 1949. In February of 1953 he entered into service in the U. S. Army, serving in the 11th Armored Regiment. He received his Honorable Discharge, with the rank of Corporal, in February of 1955, and then served until 1961 in the Army Reserves. He returned to the Balaton area in 1955. On September 10, 1955 Duane married Darlene Hofstadter in the Immuculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Currie, MN and they made their home on the family farm, where they raised five children. Duane had started working as a clerk in the Balaton Post Office in 1969 and in 1976 they moved into Balaton, that same year he took over as Officer in Charge of the Tyler, MN Post Office until 1978, when he was appointed Postmaster at Garvin, MN. He retired in 1992. He was a past member of St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Slayton, and at St. Mary’s in Lake Wilson, where he was an active member during the building of the new church. He was a current member of the St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Tracy, MN, where he was active in the Knights of Columbus and served on the parish council. Duane was also a member of the Balaton American Legion. He enjoyed life and people and was often told…”never change”, by many who got to know him. He also enjoyed traveling around in their camper, playing bingo, and especially spending time with his family. In August of 2010 Duane became a resident of the Parkview Manor in Ellsworth, MN, where he died Sunday, January 9, 2011, surrounded by his loving family, at the age of 80. Duane is survived by his wife, Darlene of Ellsworth, MN; one daughter, Catherine (Jerold) Drager of Marshall, MN; four sons, James (Barbara) Farrell of Maplewood, MN, Mark (Cindy) Farrell of Ghent, MN, Joel (Cindy Jo) Farrell of Ellsworth, MN, and Dennis (Dobbin) Farrell of Canyon Country, CA; eleven grandchildren, Erin (Douglas) Hoskins, Leigh (Jordan) Bauer, Daniel Farrell, Nicole Drager, Marissa Drager, Lee Farrell, Megan Farrell, Amanda Farrell, Dalbey Farrell, Dillin Farrell, and Hanna Hieronimus; four great grandchildren, Margaret and William Hoskins, Seamus Bauer, and James Farrell(son of Benjamin Farrell); one sister, Marian Faundeen of Blue Earth, MN; one sister-in-law, Leona Farrell of St. Paul, MN; nieces, nephews and many friends. His parents, grandson, Benjamin Farrell, two brothers, Raymond and Richard (Donna) Farrell, and brother-in-law, Red Faundeen, preceded him in death. Blessed be his memory.