Curtis Archerd

Curtis Archerd age 86, of Madelia, MN, passed away on August 6, 2022, at Oak Hills Living Center in New Ulm, MN. Visitation will be on Thursday, August 11, 2022 from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm at the Sturm Funeral Home, Pilgrim Chapel and will continue on Friday from 10:00 am until 11:00 am at the Faith Lutheran Church-Madelia. Service will be held at the Faith Lutheran Church-Madelia, on Friday, August 12, 2022 at 11:00 am. The clergy will be Rev. Kelly Heide. Interment will be at the Rosendale Pioneer Cemetery in rural Madelia. Arrangements are with the Sturm Funeral Home, Pilgrim Chapel in Madelia. Curtis Leonard Archerd was born in Madelia on August 3, 1936 to Vernon and Hazel (Lewis) Archerd. He was raised on the farm Southwest of Madelia along with his siblings, Virginia (Morgan), Lewis, Donald and Audrey (Tierney). Curt attended first through fourth grades at rural District 10 Springbrook School and fifth through eighth grades at Madelia. After losing his mother to polio when he was eight years old, he spent time in the homes of his aunt Essie (Archerd) and uncle Earl Mather, aunt Flossie (Lewis) and uncle Hibbard Thompson; cousins, Viola (Brown) and Rudy Paulson and Marjorie (Keech) and David Parker. Curt was employed by Gopher concrete in Madelia 1956-57 and 1959-1969. He worked for local farmers, Edmund Pietsch, Bob Johnson and Wayne Kevan, as well as himself. He and his cousin Lowell Mather farmed together from 1968-1985. In 1963, he and his friends Don Rooney, Frank Minie and Gene Ogle made a trip to Oceanside, CA where he worked as a foreman on a construction crew, building the barracks on Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base. He was employed by Culligan Water in Madelia from 1970-72, delivering water softener salt and tanks. He drove Madelia school bus from 1969-1982. From 1988 to 2010 Curt was employed by Cliff Viessmann Trucking of Mankato, MN as a long haul semi operator, a job and employer that he remembered fondly in later years. He then held the position of custodian at the rest area on Highway 60 east of St. James until retiring. Curt learned to play the Chemnitzer style concertina from Norbert Gag of New Ulm. He was a short-term fill in for the Six Fat Dutchmen polka band, making a trip with them to Texas. In the early 1980's he made several appearances on the local television program "BandWagon" along with a number of musicians. He taught Sunday school at Rosendale Lutheran Church. Curt was united in marriage to Betty Vorwek on March 26th, 1954; they had 3 daughters; Bonnie, Kim and Dawn. They later divorced. On June 18th, 1966 Curt married Lois (Jensen) and they had 3 more daughters and a son; Mandi, Becki, Rani,and Derek. Curt enjoyed vintage tractors of all kinds, fellowship with friends and family, and a brief stint at rose gardening. Curt is survived by his daughters, Bonnie (Roger) Grochow, Kim (Mark) Koser, Mandi (Kevin) Dirksen, Becki Archerd and Rani Archerd; 16 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews and many cherished friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings; wives, Betty and Lois; his daughter, Dawn and son, Derek. The family wishes to recognize with gratitude the caring staff at Ridgeway on German and at Oak Hills Living Center of New Ulm. Visitation 1 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm Thursday, August 11, 2022 Sturm Funeral Home, Pilgrim Chapel 303 E. Main St. Madelia, Minnesota, United States 56062 Visitation 2 10:00 am - 11:00 am Friday, August 12, 2022 Faith Lutheran Church-Madelia 306 Abbott Ave. SW Madelia, Minnesota, United States 56062 Service Information 11:00 am Friday, August 12, 2022 Faith Lutheran Church-Madelia 306 Abbott Ave. SW Madelia, Minnesota, United States 56062 Interment Information Rosendale Lutheran Cemetery Rosendale Twp Madelia, Minnesota, United States 56062 Luncheon The family of Curt invites you to a luncheon after the burial to share in a time of fellowship and memory sharing.