Osborne J. Arlien

Osborne J. Arlien

Public visitation was held Thursday, March 8, 2012, at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home, Howard Lake, Minn., for Osborne J. “Ozzie” Arlien, 85, of Howard Lake who died Saturday, March 3, at the Good Samaritan Home, Howard Lake.

Burial was in Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis.

Ozzie was born in Tokio, N.D., a son of Melvin and Ruth Arlien. He grew up near Pekin and Pleasant Lake. He graduated from Rugby High School. He served in the U.S. Army (Airborne) during World War II and participated in atomic testing in Nevada. He was a member of the North Dakota National Guard and 164th Infantry. He was recalled for the Korean Conflict and later served in the 47th Division Minn. National Guard until his retirement at the rank of major. He graduated from North Dakota State University with a degree in ag economics. He was elected National FFA Vice President, the first national officer from N.D. He taught agriculture in Elgin and Rolla.

He was a salesman and general manager for Farm Bureau Service Co. before forming his own company, AM Chemical. He built plants in Dassel, Winthrop and Truman, Minn. He was an executive with several plant food companies until settling on a farm near Howard Lake raising registered Angus. He served Wright County as executive secretary, administrator, auditor/treasurer and commissioner until his retirement in 1993.

He is survived by a daughter, Linda; a son, Cort; three grandchildren; a nephew and two nieces.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Dara; his parents; and a brother, Raymond.

Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home, Howard Lake, Minn.