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Herbert Nels Mehus, 80, of Albert Lea died Saturday May 2, 2020, at St. John’s Lutheran Community-The Woodlands. A private family service will be at a later date at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home. Online condolences are welcome at www.bayviewfuneral.com.

Herb was born Sept. 3, 1939, in Glenville to Nels and Inga (Burkhow) Mehus. He attended Glenville schools and Albert Lea High School. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. Herb enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving from 1956 to 1960, and was stationed in Honolulu, Hawaii.  He spent most of his enlistment aboard the USS Safeguard, a salvage ship in the Pacific Ocean. During his Navy years Herb was fortunate to visit the Philippines, Hong Kong, Tokyo, smaller Japanese ports, South Korea and Iwo Jima. He was a proud veteran. 

Herb and Marilyn Jensen were married in 1963 and then settled in Albert Lea. They had two sons, Bryan and Jon. Herb and Marilyn divorced in 1972.  

Herb worked for Wilson &Co. and Farmstead. After retirement Herb continued to work part-time for the Eagles Club as a janitor and for Hillcrest Cemetery in maintenance. He enjoyed family visits, following his grandchildren’s activities, daily walks — especially outdoors, bicycle riding, old Westerns and military movies, Minnesota Twins baseball, Vikings football and travel. He met special friend Carol Kallberg and together they traveled through 26 states, parts of Canada and twice to Sweden. He was a member of the Eagles Club and American Legion Post 56.

Herb is survived by Bryan and Joni Mehus of Spring Grove and Jon Mehus and Neal Kielar of Golden Valley; grandchildren Ryan and Kayla Mehus of La Crescent, Richell Mehus and Rocky Larson of River Falls, Wisconsin, and Randi Mehus of River Falls, Wisconsin; special friend, Carol Kallberg, of Albert Lea; brother, Marion Mehus, and wife, Audrey, of Glenville; sister, Donna Nelson, and husband, Dennis, of Glenville; sisters-in-law Helen Mehus of Rushford and Ruth Mehus of California; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents Nels and Inga; and siblings and their spouses Glen Mehus, Eugene and Audrey Mehus, Arlo Mehus, Virgil Mehus, Irene and George Gordon, and Darlene and Carl Dobberstein.