Nathalia Orpen
Nathalia Ann (Nordlund) Orpen was born on June 11, 1932, in Strathcona, MN to Richard and Mabel Nordlund. Nathalia graduated from Greenbush High School and later worked there as the school secretary. On August 19, 1956, Nathalia married Leo Benjamin Orpen and joined him in Babbit, MN where he was working in the iron mines. In 1957 they came back to the farm near Thief Lake where Leo had grown up, purchased it from his parents, and spent the next 48 years raising sheep, cattle, and small grains. Besides keeping busy with farm work, Nathalia raised her four children, sewed most of their clothes, gardened, canned, and was active in her church and community. She kept her children involved in 4-H, teaching them many valuable skills as a county leader. Nathalia and Leo were long time members of United Lutheran Church of Gatzke where Nathalia taught Sunday School, served in the Ladies Aid and other capacities. After retiring from the farm in 2005, they moved into Middle River and joined First Lutheran Church. In both churches and communities, Nathalia was well known for her quilting skills. She sewed many quilts for World Relief, for Goose Festival raffles, and of course, for her children and grandchildren. Nathalia served Moose River Township in the role of clerk for 55 years and was also treasurer of the East Marshall Co. Farmers Union. Nathalia and Leo enjoyed 62 years of married life together, which included more than just hard work and community service. Nathalia hosted countless gatherings of family, neighbors, deer hunters, and friends at her kitchen table for meals, coffee, conversation, and games. When the kids were young, they enjoyed family vacations and traveled as far as Washington, D.C. After the kids had grown, Leo and Nathalia traveled to Hawaii and even Australia to visit their former neighbors and friends, Marc and Bonnie Thompson.
They spent many winters in Texas where they made new friends from all over the U.S. and Canada. Nathalia and Leo met at a dance and enjoyed going to dances well into their senior years. Although Nathalia had balance issues, they seemed to disappear on the dance floor. She even taught line dancing classes in Texas. Nathalia died on February 20, 2022, at the age of 89 at the Thief River Falls Care Center. May her memory be cherished and blessed.
Nathalia is survived by her children: Carol (Dan) Nicklay of Vanderbilt, MI, Lois (Milo Ballingrud) of Thief River Falls, Glen of Middle River, and John (JoAnn) of Battle Lake. Grandchildren: Ann Chaffee, Mary (Matt) Grantham, Matthew (Karen) Chaffee, Adam (Rachel) Chaffee; Vanessa and Michelle Tieman; David (Amber), Ben (Kallie), and Laura (Josh) Orpen. Great-grandchildren: Zoe, Bree, Levi, Leo, Emmit, and Eleanor. Sister-in-law: Mary Ann Nihart. She will also be missed by her extended family and many friends.
Nathalia was preceded in death by her husband, parents, sister Joan (Terry) Brown, brother-in-law Richard Orpin, and son-in-law Greg (Carol) Chaffee.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00AM, Saturday, February 26, 2022 at First Lutheran Church in Middle River with Pastor Kevin Hackney presiding. Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the church. Interment services will be held at Moose River Cemetery in the spring. The funeral service will be live streamed via First Lutheran Church’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook. com/firstlutheranmr/
Arrangements are with Collins Funeral Home of Middle River. An online guestbook is available at www.collinsfunerals.com