Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
Private family services for Orville A. Tewes were held Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023, at Pleasant View Cemetery in Hartley, with Pastor Lynn Dau officiating. Warner Funeral Home assisted with the arrangements.
Orville Alvin Tewes, the son of Ernest and Nellie (Baumeister) Tewes, was born Sept. 16, 1930 at home in rural Hartley. Orville had 14 siblings. He attended country school until the eighth grade, and then attended and graduated from the high school in Hartley in 1948.
Orville was united in marriage to Marlys Ann Shafer, of Calumet, on Oct. 25, 1953. He was drafted in 1953 and served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War until he was discharged in August of 1955.
When he returned home the two of them started a family. Orville and Marlys along with their three sons lived in Hartley, Calumet and Sanborn before they settled down on a farm between Paullina and Sutherland in 1972. For years Orville had milk cows, raised pigs and crop farmed. Orville later raised feeder cattle until he was in his late 80’s, sharing with his grandson Daniel that he would have to outdo him and carry on the tradition of raising cattle until he was in his late 80’s.
He enjoyed being on the farm and wasn’t much for traveling, He enjoyed watching football on television and occasionally would yell at them when the play wasn’t done quite right. He also had a love for restoring older model “red tractors.” Orville farmed right up until he fell and broke his arm in October. He was 92 and still wanted to be very hands-on. Even after the broken arm he continued to do as much as he could because in his words, “Farming is in my blood.”
In his later years he enjoyed putting miles on his pickup traveling the countryside visiting with family and friends. Although he could be gruff on the outside, he had a witty sense of humor and a big heart for his grandkids, family and friends.
Orville passed from this life on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023, at age 92. Left to cherish his memory are his loving wife, Marlys: three sons: Joel and Kim Tewes, of Primghar; Shelley and Kathy Tewes, of Paullina; and Mike Tewes, of Sutherland; five grandchildren and 10 greatgrandchildren: Nick and Angie Tewes and their daughter, Adalynn; Barry and Jackie Tewes and their children, Tanner, Collin and Owen; Ryan and Chellene Tewes and their children, Treven and Brielle; Daniel Tewes and his children, Eliza and Garrison; Mat and Tracey Ahrenstorff and their children, Myles and Gavin; and one sister, Marlene Wills, of Hartley.
He now joins loved ones who have gone before him: his son, Brian Tewes; his parents, Ernest and Nellie Tewes; eight brothers: Lawrence Tewes, Harlan Tewes, Marvin Tewes, Delmar Tewes, Lester Tewes, Roger Tewes, Arlo Tewes and Eldon Tewes; and five sisters: Marilyn Tewes, Norma Jean Richter, Marjorie Petersen, Mildred Hennings and Arlene Harders.
