Harvey Podtburg

Funeral services for Harvey Podtburg of Morris, MN will be held Saturday, August 11, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Morris. Reverend Donald Main will be officiating. Visitation will be held Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. with a prayer service at 7:00 at the Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris and for one hour prior to services at the church on Saturday. Burial will be in Summit Cemetery in Morris. Military rites will be provided by the Morris American Legion, VFW, AmVets and the Minnesota Army National Guard Honor Guard.

Harvey Fred Podtburg, son of John and Louise (Buntje) Podtburg, was born May 31, 1927 in Synnes Township in Stevens County, Minnesota. Harvey grew up in Morris, where he was confirmed at St. Paul's Lutheran Church and also attended Morris Public Schools. Following his schooling, Harvey enlisted in the United States Army on August 24, 1950. He received an honorable discharge on August 21, 1952. Harvey returned to Morris following his discharge. On April 26, 1956, he was united in marriage to Hilda Houchin at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Morris. In 1969, Harvey owned and operated Podtburg Soft Water and Septic Service. He retired at the age of 70 and has continued to live in Morris since that time.

Harvey was a member of the Morris American Legion and the VFW. He enjoyed gardening and watching old movies, especially westerns.

Harvey died on Wednesday, August 8, 2012 at the Stevens Community Medical Center in Morris, having lived to reach the age of 85 years.

He is survived by six children: Alice (Ron) Davis of Starbuck, Steve Podtburg of Morris, Dan Podtburg of Chokio, Rosey Ehrp of Willmar, Bev (Rick) Nelson of Alexandria and Wyatt Ehrp of Las Vegas, NV; 13 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; three sisters: Lorraine Halbe of Morris, Viola (Arland) Sperr of Cokato and Merceda (Felix) Blaskowski of Glenwood and two sisters-in-law: Olga Podtburg of Princeton and Dorothy Podtburg of St. Louis Park. He was preceded in death by his ex-wife: Hilda Podtburg; his parents; two grandsons: Eric Podtburg and Steven Shepersky; one infant sister; sister and brother-in-law: Louise and Gary Anderson; three brothers: Lloyd, Lewis and Lester and one brother-in-law: Sheradin Halbe.

Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris is in charge of the arrangements.