Oliver Warren Westman

Oliver Warren Westman was born to Hjalmar and Julia (Hendrickson) Westman on August 18, 1923, in Rock Creek, Minnesota, in the home that his grandfather built. He passed away on Thursday, September 24, at the Fairview-Wyoming Hospital at the age of 92. He attended District 23 (McKay School) a one room school built in the late 1800s for his elementary grades and later went on to graduate from Rush City High School in 1941. Oliver became part of his dad’s farming operation as he was growing up, and began farming full time with his father after graduation. One of his favorite memories was of the day his dad told him to put the horses in the barn and go shopping for a tractor. The deal was made and his dad said, “Now you drive it home.” So he set off on a bouncy ride home driving a 1931 John Deere GP tractor with steel wheels. He always said “I felt like I was King of the Hill.” Another big step on the farm was the purchasing of two registered Holstein heifers from which they built Rock Elm Registered Holsteins which became a respected herd across the state. In fact, some of their best cows were sold to dairymen throughout the Midwest as well as California and even China. Oliver met his future wife Elaine Lundberg when they were introduced by his mother Julia; Oliver was six years old and Elaine was six weeks old. On May 5, 1951, they tied the knot at East Rock Creek Baptist Church located 1/2 mile from their home. The couple was blessed by the birth of six children, one who died at birth. With the constant farm work, the family didn’t take frequent vacations, but they were able to visit Yellowstone National Park; the Black Hills and the Badlands; Manitoba, Canada; Branson, Missouri; and to take many trips to Babbitt, Minnesota. One trip after the older kids had already moved away became the source for a family story. Oliver, Elaine, and Barry were dining at Denny’s when Barry got the child’s discount, Oliver got the senior discount, and Elaine had to pay full price. When he was in his early 80s, his desire to visit relatives was so great that he overcame his fear of flying to take a trip with Elaine to Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia. He had often confided that he didn’t like very much to be seated at 3,000 feet up in the air between the clouds. Throughout his life Oliver was active in several organizations and clubs such as Pine County DHIA, East Central Holstein Club, and the state and national holstein associations. Over the years he was also a member of various boards and committees at East Rock Creek Baptist and later Rush City Baptist Church. Oliver continued farming until 1996 when he sold the farm to Jim and Donna; however, he remained a vital part of the operation by driving the tractor and running errands until he was 89 and by advising until this past Sunday when Jim took him on a ride to look at the crops. In 1997 he was diagnosed with prostate cancer and wondered if he and Elaine should go ahead with their plans to build their new home on acreage reserved from the farm property. His doctor’s advice was to have the surgery and go ahead with their plans. Both Elaine and Oliver wanted family close and they got it. This new home became the new gathering place, a sort of Grand Central Station. During this time, Elaine and the kids encouraged him to put on paper the stories he loved to tell. Oliver was a natural storyteller and he was always highlighting some experience he had as a boy, describing a relative who was no longer living, or telling what Rock Creek or Rush City was like when he was young. He wanted that history to be known by his family. Several notebooks later, he and Elaine assembled those stories into a book called “From Arrow-heads to Golf Balls and Everything in Between.” Oliver and Elaine enjoyed 18 years in this home until September, 2014, when Elaine broke her hip and Oliver’s health began to fail requiring a move to Ecumen in North Branch. They were no longer able to maintain a home and sold the house to granddaughter Tori and her husband Justin. That move off the farm where he had lived his entire life as well as the selling of the dairy herd made the last year of his life one of tremendous change. In the midst of all those changes, his attitude remained the same. Everyone who met Oliver was struck by his kind and gentle spirit which was born of his love for Christ. His faith never wavered and his children and grand-children cherish his godly example and the daily prayers he offered for them. Elaine and the family wish to thank their friends, extended family and Journey North Church family for their love, support and prayer. Special thanks go to the staff at Ecumen who showed Oliver much love and kindness during his year there. Oliver is survived by his wife Elaine of Rush City; children Barb Westman of Rush City, Jim (Donna) Westman of Rush City, Sandy Westman of Fridley, Barry (Tina) Westman of Janesville, WI.; son-in-law Roberto Cicero of Rush City; grandchildren Victoria (Justin) Klick, Julia, Caitlin, Chad, Emily and Olivia Westman, Jillian Cicero; great grandchildren Oliver, Elizabeth and Carson; aunt Effie Hendrickson of Pine City; brother-in-law Lonnie Lundberg and wife Charlotte of Isanti; nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Oliver is preceded in death by his parents Hjalmar and Julia (Hendrickson) Westman; infant son; daughter Sharon; and sister-in-law Ethyl (Willard) Hendrickson. Pastor Tim Adams will officiate a celebration of Oliver’s life; Monday (9/28/15) at 11:00 AM at Journey North Church in Pine City. Visitation and reviewal will take place Sunday (9/27/15) from 4:00 – 7:00 PM at the Olson Funeral Chapel in Rush City and one hour prior to the service at the church. The interment will be in the First Lutheran Cemetery in Rush City. Memorials may be directed to Make A Wish Foundation or Leukemia/Lymphoma Society. Funeral arrangements for Oliver Westman of Rush City are entrusted to the: Funeral and Cremation Service of Rush City ~ Olson Chapel. www.FuneralAndCremationService.com