Walter Harder

Walter Peter Harder age 89, of Oak Park Heights, formerly of Mountain Lake, Minnesota died on June 10, 2019, at Lakeview Hospital in Stillwater, Minnesota. Service with First Mennonite Church will be held at the Bethel Mennonite Church, Mountain Lake, Minnesota, on Tuesday, June 25, 2019 at 10:30 am. Interment will be at the Mountain Lake City Cemetery in Mountain Lake, Minnesota. Arrangements are with the Sturm Funeral Home in Mtn. Lake, Minnesota. On line condolences may be left for the family at www.sturmfh.com. Walter Peter Harder was born on March 22, 1930, to Anna Janzen Harder and Jacob J. Harder. He grew up on a farm outside of Mountain Lake, Minnesota, and attended District 65 country school, where he was alone in his grade for eight years. After graduating from Mountain Lake High School, Walter worked for several years before attending Bethel College in North Newton, Kansas. He completed his college education at the University of Minnesota, graduating with a degree in studio fine arts. Walter met Joyce Berg in 1956, while attending German class at the University. Walter and Joyce were married on November 26, 1958. They lived in Minneapolis where they had two daughters, Madeleine and Gretchen. Walter worked building convention booths and displays until 1962, when they moved to Mountain Lake where he farmed for seven years. He then designed and built houses, first in Sleepy Eye and then in Mountain Lake. He was residing in Oak Park Heights, Minnesota, at the time of his death on June 10, 2019. Walter pursued many interests throughout his life. He raised and showed sheep, and was president of the Cottonwood County Bird Club and the Mountain Lake Heritage Village. He enjoyed doing artwork, winning the sculpture division at the Minnesota State Fair in 2005. Walter is survived by his children, Madeleine (Rod) Marquardt and Gretchen (Steve) Duerksen; five grandchildren, Raymund, Bryan, Nathan, Kendrick and Emily (Matt Batroot); one great-grandchild, Bronwen; his brother Lawrence; sisters-in-law Kathy and Gladys, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Joyce, his parents, six siblings and their spouses, Theresa, Harry (Anna), Jacob (Estella), Anna (Marvin Nickel), Leo, and Albert (Bessie). Interment Information 9:00 am Tuesday, June 25, 2019 Mountain Lake City Cemetery 10th St. N at Midway Rd Mountain Lake, Minnesota, United States 56159 Service Information 10:30 am Tuesday, June 25, 2019 Bethel Mennonite Church, Mountain Lake, Minnesota 301 N 9th St Mountain Lake, Minnesota, United States 56159 Food and Fellowship Walter's family invites you to join them for a time of food and fellowship immediately following the memorial service.