Duane Hermanson

Duane LeRoy Hermanson,92, passed away peacefully at his home on June 4, 2025, due to Congestive Heart Failure. Delivered by a midwife during The Great Depression, he was born on June 30, 1932 to 16-year-old Adeline Evelyn Wilder at the John and Minnie Wilder family farm near Brush Creek, Minnesota. He was confirmed on March 30,1947, at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Easton, Minnesota. Due to frequent family moving, he attended several country schools and Wells-Easton High School.

He met the love of his life, Luella Laura Mathews at Ankeny’s Roller Rink in Blue Earth, Minnesota. Married on May 23,1951 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Blue Earth, they celebrated 68 years of marriage until Luella’s death on June 5, 2019.

Together they raised their three boys on their hobby farm in the woods south of Blue Earth.

Both enjoyed getting together with family, friends, and local neighbors for card parties and snowmobile rides on the state trail that abutted their farm. Both helped establish the Blue Earth Snow Rovers Snowmobile Club with a beautiful, warm club house he helped build. Both taught youth snowmobile safety classes and served on the Snow Rovers Board together.

Employed as a highly skilled mason, he created many structures out of brick, block, concrete, and stone in the Blue Earth area and beyond. Gardening together with his wife Luella, they sold vegetables at the Blue Earth Farmers Market for many years, especially green beans, tomatoes, and onions. Hobbies included watching TV, reading newspapers as well as hunting and fishing magazines, deer hunting, and fishing. He regularly attended church in person, and listened to church services on the radio. He daily fed and watched his hungry yard squirrels and flitting hummingbirds.

Duane is survived by his sons Durwin (Carol) of Mankato, Bruce (Brenda) of Burnsville, and Wayne (Rose) of Blue Earth; Grandchildren: Eric (Jody) Hermanson, Mark Hermanson (Charalette Mathwig), Scot (Krystal) Hermanson, Laura (Jonathan) Edwards, Laura (Jake) Januszewski, Brian (Haley) Hermanson, Brandon (Jacqueline) Hermanson, Corey (Laura E. Hermanson) and Kristy Hermanson; Great-Grandchildren: Brooklyn (Colton) Blain, Olivia Hermanson, Caden Hermanson, Tait Hermanson, Kyle Hermanson, Nora Hermanson, Jemma Januszewski, Jett Januszewski, Lola Januszewski, Luna Januszewski, Livi Januszewski, Sonya Hermanson, Avery Hermanson, Savannah Hermanson, Kyler Hermanson, Duane A. Hermanson, Nolan Hermanson and Briar Hermanson. Sisters: Arlis Hauskins Schoeberl (George), Diane Hauskins Pearson, and Jacqueline Betchwars Halla; Brothers: Mark Hauskins (Sue), and Robert (Kim) Betchwars; Sisters-in-law: Eleanor Schlaak, and Gretchen Hermanson, as well as many nieces, nephews, other family members, and friends.

He was preceded in death by his mother Adeline Wilder Hermanson Betchwars, his father who raised him John I. Hermanson, his biological father Mervin Edgar Hauskins, brothers James Hermanson, Roger Hermanson, Earl Hermanson, and Marvin Hermanson, and sister Jean Ann Hermanson Kruse.

His Visitation will be held from 4-7 pm on Thursday, June 12 at Patton Funeral Home in Blue Earth. His Celebration of Life Service will be held at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Blue Earth at 10:30 am on Friday, June 13 with visitation one hour prior to the service at the church.