Harold Dean Withers

Harold Dean Withers was born on May 1, 1943, to Robert and Frieda (Reichmann) Withers in Alexandria, Minnesota. He grew up on the family farm near Osakis, where he graduated from Osakis Public School. An avid athlete, he particularly enjoyed playing football and later attended Mankato State University for a year on a football scholarship. In 1964, he married the love of his life, Kathleen Heid, on August 8 at Fahlun Lutheran Church. Together they raised three children, Tracy, Terri, and Trevor.

Harold devoted much of his life to farming and the improvement of registered Holsteins. His dedication led to success in the show ring and the eventual leasing of a prized bull, Withers Dolan, to the American Breeder’s Service. The income from that achievement enabled the family to purchase their farm, acquire equipment, and build a new home in 1977. He also helped establish a Christian radio station in Osakis and remained actively involved in his children’s lives as a 4-H leader, school board member, and supporter at games, concerts, and livestock shows.

A man of deep faith, Harold and Kathy sponsored a Vietnamese family through their church and supported children through World Vision. Their home was warmly opened to foreign exchange students from Japan, Finland, France, Spain, Denmark, and Costa Rica. After selling the cattle in 1990, Harold and Kathy enjoyed traveling to visit their children and grandchildren. He cherished camping and four-wheeling in the mountains, annual Labor Day gatherings in Detroit Lakes, trips to Nascar races across the country, and time spent with family at Skidaway State Park in Georgia.

In retirement, Harold continued crop farming for a time before renting out the land. In 2012, he sold the farm acreage while keeping the building site. For the next fifteen years, he volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, helping to build homes, including projects on the Gulf Coast following Hurricane Katrina.

Harold D. Withers of Osakis, Minnesota, died on March 10, 2026, at Alomere Health in Alexandria at the age of 82. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Kathleen Withers of Osakis; children Tracy (Jenny) Withers of Savannah, Georgia, Terri (Ray) Williams of Eden Prairie, Minnesota, and Trevor (Stephanie) Withers of Rigby, Idaho; nine grandchildren, Tyler Withers, Tyson (Camryn) Withers, Jillian Withers, Sarena (Drew) Luse, Rakella Williams, Robert Williams, Tabitha Williams, Emily Withers, and Austin Withers; his sister Anita (Dean) Oeltjen of Villard, Minnesota; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings Wayne Withers, Lloyd Withers, Bryan Withers, and Dorothy Evert.