Lloyd Donald Withers

Lloyd Donald Withers, 83, of Blackduck formerly of Osakis, passed away on Monday, May 6, 2024. A memorial service for Lloyd will be held Saturday, June 1, 2024 at 11:00 AM at Osakis Lutheran Church, with a visitation Friday, May 31, 2024 from 4:00 - 7:00 PM at the Roy-Hetland Funeral Home in Osakis, as well as one hour prior to services at the church on Saturday. Burial will be at West Evergreen Cemetery in Osakis Township. 

Lloyd Donald Withers was born on August 1, 1940 to Robert and Frieda (Reichmann) Withers in Osakis, Minnesota. He attended public school in Osakis and graduated with the class of 1958.

He then went on to join the United States Navy in 1960, and served until 1964. During this time, Lloyd served much of his time on the USS Harwood; he also became married and would eventually welcome his daughter Stacey Ann, who would become the pride and joy of his life. After his time in the service, Lloyd began farming, which he would do until 1973 before becoming employed at 3M. Lloyd remained at 3M until his retirement in 2001.

On October 13, 1984 Lloyd married his wife of almost forty years, Joanne. After Lloyd’s retirement the couple moved from Osakis to Blackduck, Minnesota, which he considered God’s Country. Growing up, he spent a lot of time in the area hunting and fishing with his dad and numerous other family members.

During his life Lloyd loved sports, attending concerts, and going to the casino, and, of course, hunting and fishing. He enjoyed the experience of being in the military, especially the friendships he built with his shipmates. He often spoke fondly of the “little 350,000-mile trip” the Navy sent him on. One of his proudest moments was reuniting with his shipmates at the First USS Harwood Reunion, which he and Joanne hosted in August of 1995, and enjoyed travelling to the reunions which were held every two years in different places.

Lloyd had happy memories of fast pitch softball and the many hunting trips with friends, and fishing trips with his wife, Joanne. He also loved sharing stories of growing up on the farm and spending time with his kids, grandkids, and family. He had a wonderful sense of humor and loved to laugh and tell jokes and reminisce, including the many fond memories of the people he worked with at 3M.

Left to cherish Lloyd’s memory are his wife, Joanne Withers; daughter, Stacey (Dan) Miller; step-son, Jeremy (Kelsey) Freese; granddaughters: Hannah Miller, Madison and Nevaeh Freese; grandson, Joshua Waters; great-grandson, Matthew (Madison) Lamont; brother, Harold (Kathy) Withers; sister, Anita (Dean) Oeltjen; sisters-in-law: Carol Eggen, Karen DePriest, Lorraine French, Pam Eggen; brothers-in-law: Neil (Mary) Eggen, Gary Eggen, Philip Eggen, Donn (Patty) Eggen, Larry (Carol) Braaten; and numerous other nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews, and one great-great-great nephew.

Lloyd is preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Frieda Withers; brothers: Wayne Withers and Bryan Withers; sister, Dorothy Evert; niece, Sandy Oeltjen; along with several relatives of Joanne’s family; and many other beloved family and friends.

Roy-Hetland Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements for Lloyd.