Alan R. Duffield

Alan R. Duffield, age 91, Browns Valley, passed away peacefully Friday, March 28, 2025, at the Browns Valley Health Center.

Funeral Services will be Saturday, April 5, at 10:30 a.m. at Zion Lutheran Church in Browns Valley with Pastor Jonathan Varns officiating.  Music will be provided by organist Ginny Westbrock.

Burial will be in the Valley View Cemetery, Browns Valley.  Military honors will be provided by the William Krensing American Legion Post 58 of Browns Valley.  Honorary urn bearers will be his grandchildren, Nyssa Jimenez, Haley Duffield, Madeline Duffield, and Nik Larson.  Active urn bearer and flag bearer will be Dennis Duffield and Candi Holcomb.

Visitation will be Saturday one hour prior to the service at the church.

Alan Riley Duffield was born in the town of Browns Valley, MN, on December 28, 1933, by a midwife to Arthur and Viola (Nedrow) Duffield.  They lived on "Leveland Farm" in Arthur Township until 1938, when the family moved to the current farm where he lived all but two years of his life while in the service.

Alan went to school in Browns Valley through the 10th grade and then transferred to Morris Ag School where he graduated in 1951.  After graduation, he farmed with his dad and worked for his brothers at Sinclair Gas Station in Browns Valley until 1955 when he was drafted into the Army.  Alan did his basic training in Fort Chaffe, Arkansas, and finished his military service in Camp Irwin, California.  He was discharged in January of 1957 and came home to continue farming.

In February of 1957, Alan met the love of his life Diane Laske at the Coliseum in Browns Valley.  They were married on June 28, 1958, at the United Methodist Church in Beardsley, MN.  They were married for 45 years when Diane passed away on December 24, 2002.

Alan farmed all his adult life but also worked a winter job.  He was a well driller, commercial fisherman, worked for Jim's Body Shop, and was a substitute mail carrier for 25 years.  He also served on the Folsom Township board as a Clerk for 49 years.  He was a member of the William Krensing American Legion Post 58 for 42 continuous years.  In his last few healthy years, you could find Alan at the local saloon swapping stories or surveying the countryside keeping an eye on the local happenings.

Alan was an avid reader; he loved history and politics.  Alan loved to garden and share his produce.  He instilled the gardening bug in a couple of his granddaughters.  He loved to go to threshing bees and collect antique tools.

Survivors include his son, Dennis (Peggy) Duffield of Browns Valley; daughter, Candi Holcomb of Fargo, ND; grandchildren, Nyssa (Daniel) Jimenez, Haley Duffield, Madeline Duffield, and Nik Larson; and sister, Patty Kyro of Cambridge, MN.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Diane; his parents, Arthur and Viola; infant son, Stanley; brothers, Ward, Lee, Stan, Clare, and Bill; and sister, Fonty.