Funeral service for Orville A. Matthies, New Richland, will be 11 a.m. Tuesday Oct. 29, 2002 at the Church of All Saints, New Richland. The Rev. Thien Nguyen will officiate. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. today, with a 7 p.m. rosary service, at the Friedrich Funeral Home, New Richland, and one hour before the service at the church. Military honors will be accorded.

Orville A. Matthies, a resident of Madonna Towers, Rochester, died Thursday, Oct. 24, 2002, at the nursing home. He was 90.

Orville was born Oct. 7, 1912, in Hartland Township to Carl and Bertha (Halvorson) Matthies. He grew up on the family farm and attended rural Freeborn County schools. Following school, Orville farmed for a number of years with his father. Orville served in the United States Army during World War II as a machine gunner for the 45th division. He fought in North Africa, Italy and France and became a prisoner of war, liberated by General Montgomery of the British Armed Forces. Orville returned from the service and resumed farming on his own.

On June 30, 1947, Orville was united in marriage to Veronica Gudenburg. The couple farmed in Hartland Township where they raised livestock and crops. Orville had milk cows for many years and especially enjoyed his horses. In 1980, son David took over the farm and Orville and Veronica moved to New Richland. Orville continued to help with the farm work until 1998. He also enjoyed having coffee and rolling dice with friends, playing with his grandchildren and being with his family. In 2001, Orville and Veronica moved to Madonna Towers. Orville was a member of All Saints Church and the American Legion.

Survivors include his wife, Veronica; son, David and his wife Diane of rural New Richland; daughter, Mary Ann of Ft. Collins, Colo.; son, Michael and his wife Sue of Rochester; grandchildren: Jami Habben, Holly and Christopher Matthies and Brandon Matthies; great-grandchildren: Chance and Kyla Douglas, brothers: Ralph Matthies of National City, Calif., and Carl “Bud” Matthies of rural New Richland; and nieces, nephews and cousins.

Orville was preceded in death by son, Jeffrey; his parents; brothers: Otto and Fred Matthies; and sisters: Clara Evenson, Cora Helland, Elsie Johnson and Ella Schjei.