Orville Demmer

Orville Demmer, 90, of Fergus Falls, died Tuesday, July 28, 2015, at PioneerCare in Fergus Falls.

Orville was born on August 5, 1924, in Star Lake Township, Minnesota, to George Frederick and Matilda Almira (Smith) Demmer. He attended School District 244 and often stayed at home for lunch, until the last second, when the school bell would start ringing. He would then race across their garden to the schoolhouse next door, sliding into his seat just before the last chime faded away. Orville enjoyed growing up on the family farm with his eight siblings. In 1940, the family purchased a larger farm in Scambler Township.

In 1944, he joined the army and served until 1946. Orville trained at Camp Robinson in Little Rock, AR. In Arkansas, he guarded German prisoners of war. After the war, he served as an escort guard returning prisoners of war back to Europe.

Shortly after returning home from the service, he and his brother, Alvin, attended a Sunday School picnic at the Skolrud farm in Maplewood township. While there, two pretty young ladies came out of the house. Turning to Alvin, Orville said, “I like the one on the left”, Alvin replies, “I like the one on the right!” Orville chose, Winnifred Joan Watnaas, for that day, and the rest of his life. They were married November 13, 1948, and eventually eight children joined their family. They lived much of their early married years at Dayton Hollow Dam then later, they moved to their farm near Fergus Falls.

In 1948 Orville began his career at Otter Tail Power Company, first as a Damkeeper, later transferring to the Hoot Lake Station, starting in the coal yard. He retired as Chief Operator after 38 years of service.

Orville was proceeded in death by his wife, Winnifred; two children, Claudia and Larry Demmer and a grandchild, Tyler Demmer; his parents, George Frederick and Matilda Almira (Smith) Demmer; an infant brother, Herbert; his siblings, Irene (Benjamin) Nibbe, Leonard Demmer, Ethel (Virgil) Petersen, Iva (Everill) Broberg, Ardella (Robert) Carlson, and Gladys (Art) Egli; and brother-in-law Art Robins.

Orville is survived by his daughter-in-law,Ginger (Hoag) Demmer of Rollag; children, Leslie (Vicki) Demmer of Rochester, Cheryl (Rodney) St. Claire of Richwood, Colleen (David) Cole of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Loyal (Maureen) Demmer, Carma (Randy) Synstelien both of Fergus Falls and Loren (Amy) Demmer of Canby; his grandchildren, Justin (Allison) and Seth (Jennifer) Demmer, Erica (Daniel) Kennedy, David (Amy) Demmer, Emily (Joseph) Woodcock, Jennifer Demmer, Jessica (Levi) Englund, Jenna and Jelissa St. Claire, Ashley (Caleb) Shannon, Elisabeth, Joel, Serah, Hannah, Celestine, RuthAnn, and Micah Demmer, Christopher (Jasmine) Synstelien, Treanne Synstelien, Samuel (Bethany) Synstelien, Nathan Synstelien, Danae (Jacob) Smith, Talia, Joseph, Noah and Olivia Synstelien, Logen, Kaylee and Jakob Demmer; his great-grandchildren, Tyler and Tatum Demmer, Damon, Dawson, Lexi and Lacy Demmer, Madeline, Clark, and Henry Kennedy, Penelope and Etta Demmer, Josie and Everett Woodcock, Mason St. Claire, Riley Shannon, Emma Synstelien and Payton Smith; and siblings, Florence Robins and Alvin (Marian, the other pretty Sunday school picnic girl) Demmer.

A shared visitation and service will be held with Orville’s brother-in-law, Virgil Petersen.

Visitation: 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, July 31, at the Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls
Service: 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 1, 2015 at Abundant Life Assembly of God Church in Fergus Falls
Clergy: Reverend Duane Smith
Interment: Knollwood Memorial Gardens, Fergus Falls
Funeral Home: Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls