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.