Stanley Line

The funeral service for Stanley Line of Verndale will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, February 22, at the St. John Lutheran Church in Wadena with Pastor Stephen Meltzer officiating. Visitation will be held on Sunday from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Johnson-Schuller Chapel in Wadena, and at the church on Monday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service. Stanley, age 96, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, February 16, 2016, at his home in rural Verndale, MN. Stanley was born to Alfred and Gerda (Granlund) Line on September 6, 1919, in Clotho, MN. Stan worked in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and the camp’s hospital. Stanley and Irene Birkholz were married February 22, 1941 in Nimrod. After their wedding they moved to Truman. In 1944, they returned to Nimrod to purchase and operate the café until 1947. They then moved to Oylen to purchase and operate a grocery store until a fire destroyed it in 1954. Not one to shy away from work, Stan worked as a shovel operator at the iron mines in northern Minnesota while operating the grocery store. In the late 60’s he worked in the Twin Cities on bridge construction, after which he set his sights on farming and they purchased various farms around Verndale and Wadena. Stan had also worked on the pipeline in Texas. He enjoyed his days of farming until his retirement at age 65. He used his spare time in gardening, until the age of 92, and always enjoyed playing a good round of cards with family and friends. He was a member of the MN Beef Growers Association. Stanley was preceded in death by his wife Irene March 9, 2011; parents Alfred and Gerda; grandson Samuel Rach; son-in-law Leroy Rach; sister Thelma Meadows; brother Roy and Joyce Line; brothers-in-law Vernon Anderson, Joseph Allen and John McDonald; and sisters-in-law Evelyn Line and Betty Line. He is survived by his sons Keith of Kent, WA, and Kermit (Inez) of Verndale; daughter Karen Rach of Wadena; eight grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, and six great-great-grandchildren; brother Allyn Line; sisters Sylvia Anderson, Beatrice Allen, and Glenda McDonald; and sister-in-law Velma Line. Honorary pallbearers will be Lisa O’ Connor, Brenda Line, Yolanda Drennen, and Saresa Rach. Serving as pallbearers will be LeRoy Line, David Line, Glen Rach, Bradley Line, Cody O’Connor and Timothy Line. Burial will be in the Wadena Cemetery, Wadena, MN.

Stanley Line

September 6, 1919 - February 16, 2016