Duane Green, 83, of Middle River, died on Saturday, March 7, 2009 at Valley Elder Care in Grand Forks, ND.

Funeral services will be 2:00 PM, Thursday, March 12, 2009 at Nazareth Lutheran Church, Holt, MN with Pastor Irvin Schmitke officiating. Interment will be in the spring at Ringbo Cemetery.

Visitation will be 4-7 PM, Wednesday, March 11, 2009 at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls, MN with a Prayer Service at 5:30 pm. Visitation will also be one hour prior to the funeral service on Thursday at the church.

Duane LaVerne Green was born on February 25, 1926 to Donald Elmer and Minnie Lee (Offerdahl) Green in Middle River, MN. He grew up in Middle River and attended school in town. He often told about carrying water to the folks in town.

At a young age he went surveying around the state of North Dakota. Then at age 20 he entered the US Army. He served his country for two years.

He was united in marriage to Patricia Keely and to this union three children were born. They lived in Grand Forks for a few years. Duane worked for the pipeline during this time. His first wife Patricia died in the early 1950s.

He was united in marriage to Yvonne Johnson on May 29, 1956 at Cass Lake, MN. The couple lived in Thief River Falls for the first 20 years of their marriage. They then made home near Middle River and Holt, MN. Duane drove truck for LB Hartz delivering goods to the towns in NW Minnesota for many years.

Duane was an avid hunter and he liked archery. He enjoyed his hunting shack near Grygla where spent time hunting and socializing. He also spent a lot of time fishing at Springsteel Resort. He helped start the Thief River Archery Club. He enjoyed reading. He had a hobby farm and liked having different animals around and had a fondness for pigs. He was a member of the Middle River American Legion. He was also a member of the Eagles in Thief River Falls. To his family he was known as Sonny and to his friends he was Dewey.

He is survived by his children from his first marriage, SanDee Green Burley Frye, Tucson, AZ, Roxann (Robert) Jarvinen, Britt, MN, Stephen Burley, Bellingham, WA, four children from his second marriage, Rudy (Pam) Rose, Bloomington, MN, Dawn Gilmore, Isanti, MN, Darrin Green, Grand Forks, Corey Green, Jacksonville, FL, grandchildren Andy Nygaard, Luke Nygaard, Sean Ryan, Hjalmaar Rose, Nathan Rose, Matthew Rose, Collin Rose, Brittany Green, and Lexie Norby, brothers and sisters Douglas Green, Kenowick, WA, Beverly (Leland) Evjen, Williston, ND, Marilyn (Phil) Yale, Manvel, ND, Donnie (CeCe) Green, Merril Beach, FL, Janice Rolph, Minneapolis, KS, Myrna (Don) Topolinski, Watoma, WI, Judy (Keith) Hawkins, Great Falls, MT, Terri (Dan) OGrady, Pittsburg, PA, Penny (John) Mechia, Grand Forks, ND. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife Patricia, second wife Yvonne in 2001, son Brady Lee Green, two sisters Jackie Johnson and Shirley Tingem, his parents, step father, Cliff Lee.

SOLOIST: Joel Kezar
SELECTIONS: Go Rest High On That Mountain, Will the Circle Be Unbroken, Wings of a Dove
CONGREGATIONAL HYMNS: Amazing Grace
CASKETBEARERS: Clifford Larson, Donnie Green, Phil Yale, Larry Hagen, David Johnson, Leland Evjen