Funeral services for Howard I. Recknor, age 86, of Hartland, will be held at 11 a.m., Tuesday, May 24, 2011, at the Cross of Glory Lutheran Church in Hartland. The Rev. Dennis Frank will officiate. Interment will be in the Hartland Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m., Monday, May 23, 2011, at the Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home in Albert Lea, and one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday. To sign the guest book, go to www.bayviewfuneral.com.

Howard died on Friday, May 20, 2011, at the Albert Lea Good Samaritan Society.

Howard Isaac Recknor was born on Oct. 7, 1924, to Ray and Beatrice (Chambers) Recknor in rural Creston, Iowa. He graduated from Creston area schools. On Jan. 3, 1945, Howard was united in marriage to Betty Jean Swanson. Howard was a member of the Cross of Glory Lutheran Church and served on the church council. He was a member of the New Richland-Hartland School Board for 25 years. Howard was a lifelong farmer, but especially enjoyed his flower gardening. His main pride and joy was Betty’s Scandinavian rosemaling.

Fairs played a huge part in Howard’s life. He was a 4-H member in Union County, Iowa, and enjoyed his livestock projects. Howard and Betty were leaders for both Hartland and Freeborn County 4-H. He enjoyed attending cattle shows and watching his son, Greg, and grandchildren Katie and Jess show their cattle. Howard was a member of the Freeborn County Fair Board for 25 years and served many years as the fair’s manager. He enjoyed helping bring top entertainers to the Freeborn County Fair. Howard served on the Minnesota State Fair Board for 15 years and culminated his fair career by being president his final two years.

Survivors include his daughter, Kathleen Frisk and her husband, Robert, of New Richland; son, Greg Recknor, and his wife, Cindy, of Hartland; grandchildren Brenda Erikstrup and her husband, Chris, of Woodbury, Tom Frisk and his wife, Lisa, of Winona, Katie Wayne and her husband, Nick, of Mankato, and Jess Recknor of Clarion, Iowa; great-grandchildren Carl and Ruth Erikstrup of Woodbury, Aaron Frisk of Winona, Amelia and Graham Wayne of Mankato; nieces Rebecca Stevens of Bingham Lake, Judy Alexander of Sunland, Calif., and Jackie Gravemen of Albert Lea; and a special friend, Lettieann Anderson of Clarks Grove.

Howard was preceded in death by his wife, Betty, his parents Ray and Beatrice Recknor, father-in-law and mother-in-law Gifford and Ruth Swanson, brothers Ivan (Evelyn), Earl (Maxine), brothers-in-law Wallace Demmer and Ellsworth Gulbrandson, and nephews Eugene Recknor and Michael Recknor.