Weldon McFarland, 90, of East Grand Forks, MN, formerly of Oslo, MN, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, October 8, 2024.
Weldon Lee was born on the family farm in Bigwoods Township, Marshall County, MN, January 21, 1934. The youngest of four boys born to Ernest and Myrtle (Ryan) McFarland, Weldon began helping on the farm when quite young. He helped with caring for livestock and working in the fields including potato harvest. On many brisk winter mornings he shoveled snow and built the fire at the one room school house across the road from the family home. Called “Mike,” Weldie attended the AC in Crookston before graduating from Oslo High School with Roma in 1952. He continued working the land alongside his parents and brothers. On February 20, 1954, Weldon was united in marriage to Roma Naomi Kallock in Minneapolis. The young couple started their family in the city before returning to Bigwoods in 1957 to farm with brother, Arlan (a partnership that would run until 1990) and with his son Michael until his retirement in 1998.
Roma and Weldon built their legacy from scratch; with their first 40 acres purchased across the road from where he was raised. If Weldon was the drive of the family and farm, Roma was its heart. She was “small but mighty,” managing the growing number of children, helping with the work, delivering hot meals during harvest, and keeping Weldie grounded, when he wanted things done yesterday (or sooner) on his tightly run operation. The couple retired together from farming in 1998, wintering in Redington Shores, FL. Here, Weldie was known as “Mac”. They enjoyed the beachfront lifestyle with many friends and neighbors watching the dolphins jump in the Gulf, poolside happy hours, and occasional visits to the “The Friendly”. Back home in Minnesota, they moved their home on the farm into East Grand Forks. The intensity that defined him during his years on the farm was swept away by sun, sand, and joy brought by their many grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Grandpa Weldon loved his family and enjoyed nothing more than gathering together and taking pride in their many accomplishments. Too many memories to count were made at he and Roma’s kitchen table, Springsteel on Lake of the Woods (boating and walleye fishing) and out in the fields of Bigwoods Township.
He is survived by his six children, Gregg (Karen) McFarland of Katy, TX and Gull Lake, MN, twins Mary Jo Sweeney (fiance, Terry O’Brien) of St. Pete Beach, FL, and Grand Forks, and Mike (Cindy) McFarland of Alvarado, MN, Debbie Hoverson of Manvel, ND, and twins Lisa (Mike) Stanley of Edina, MN, and Leah (Dean) Swanson of Mound, MN; 18 grandchildren, Erin McFarland, Jill (Jock) Naponic, Naomi Hansen, Heidi (Nick) Wavra, Wesley Sweeney, Jared and Matthew (Tami) McFarland, Megan (Nathan) Mathison, Michael (Mandy) Hoverson, Alyssa (Dan) Hoverson Schott, Casey (Sara) Hoverson, Fallon (Taylor) Hoverson Petsinger, Norah (Dan) Goblirsch, Lauren, Aidan, and Paige Stanley, Hannah and Andrew Swanson; 34 great-grandchildren; nieces, Bonnie Swanson, Gwen Lappegaard, Kim Ness, Brenda Qualley, Terrie Clemenson; and nephew, Tim McFarland.
In addition to his loving wife of 54 years, Roma, who died on June 5, 2008, Weldon was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Ashley Sweeney (2020); and his four brothers, Vernon “VJ” (Ruby), Duane “Duke” (Elaine), and Arlan (Esther) McFarland; nephew, Lance McFarland; and nieces, Diane Chwialkowski and Tammy McFarland.
FUNERAL SERVICE: Saturday, October 12, 2024, at 11:00 AM, in Zion Lutheran Church, Oslo, MN. VISITATION: Starting at 9:30 AM before the funeral. INTERMENT (following lunch): Bigwoods Lutheran Cemetery, rural Oslo, MN.
Memorials preferred to:
Children’s Cancer Research Fund
1650 W 82nd St, Suite 400
Bloomington, MN 55431