Harvey L. Buchholz, age 91, of Hendricks, MN, passed away Saturday, September 18, 2021 in the Hendricks Nursing Home. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Thursday, September 23, 2021 at Christ Lutheran Church in Hendricks, MN. Visitation will be 5 – 7 p.m. with a 7 pm Prayer Service on Wednesday, September 22nd at the Houseman Funeral Home, Birk Chapel in Hendricks, MN and will resume Thursday one hour prior to the service at the church. In lieu of flowers or cards, please donate to your local Kiwanis, Western Community Action, or Relay for Life organization. Paying it forward is the best way to remember a man who spent his life doing just that.
Harvey Lloyd Buchholz passed away as he lived, surrounded by his many family members coming and going, telling each other stories, and practicing their long “Minnesota Goodbyes”. He died on September 18, 2021, in Hendricks Minnesota at the age of 91 years, 11 months, and 18 days old.
Harvey Lloyd Buchholz was born on September 28, 1929, to Julius & Elsie (Jassman) Buchholz on a farm near Geddes, South Dakota. After moving to Hendricks in the early 40’s he graduated from Hendricks High School in 1946 as valedictorian of the class. He then attended the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis and graduated valedictorian again in 1950 with a double major in History and Pharmacy. He returned to Hendricks and started working at Siverson’s Drug Store. He worked for Vic, Ralph, and Slade Siverson during his time there, which spanned over 60 years. On June 14, 1953, Harvey married Delores Janes in a small ceremony at Trinity Lutheran Church Parsonage. Together, they had six outspoken and vivacious children that kept them on their toes and that they took on many road trips across the country. Later those trips would include many of their 18 grandchildren. Always willing to open their home to more than just their own, from 1978-1979 the Buchholz family welcomed a foreign exchange student from Denmark named Jan. He was lovingly considered one of the kids and still is to this day. In 2018 Harvey and Delores renewed their vows on their 65th Wedding anniversary. Always quick witted and ready with a joke, when asked what he thought about being married for 65 years he responded with “that’s a long time to married to one person”. It may have been a long time, but he was grateful for every minute of it, and so are we. In 1960 Harvey was elected Mayor of Hendricks and served in that position for 37 years. He helped with establishing the Hendricks Golf Course in 1964 as well as Deer Park. He was one of the first Kiwanis members in Hendricks and played an active role for as long as he was mentally able to. He was also on the board of Western Community Action for over 40 years and helped to manage the movie theater when it was open. If there was an organization that needed either a treasurer or a president, you could probably find Harvey! He dedicated many years to the Lincoln County Relay for Life. Harvey wore many hats, and one even took him to the stage where he tried his hand at acting and participated in many community plays throughout the years. In Harvey’s spare time (we still aren’t sure how he managed to find some), he enjoyed collecting stamps and coins, he liked to golf, play pool, and umped the local softball games. He was a great chess player and even played chess by mail before the internet existed, one move at a time. Harvey was very smart and kept his brain sharp by doing crossword puzzles, reading National Geographic, and watching Wheel of fortune. But most importantly, he loved Jeopardy. If Alex Trebek is hosting a game in the clouds, you can be sure Harvey is jamming that buzzer, because he always knew all the answers. Harvey loved Delores and the time that they spent together. He lit up when she entered the room. Even when his mind was failing and he had forgotten most people, he knew if Delores was there. If anyone could keep Harvey in check, it was Delores. Besides raising all of their children (and some of the neighborhood kids too), they enjoyed traveling stateside and internationally as well as doing painting by numbers together. Harvey and Delores were married for 68 years, their partnership and dedication to one another and their families is a story for the ages that will leave a legacy well beyond their generation and those to come. May his memory live on in the hearts of those who loved him and knew him best.
Eternally grateful for having shared his full and active life: his wife Dee of Hendricks; six children; Diane (Mark) Johnson of Aberdeen, SD, Kelly (Aprill) Buchholz, Cindy (Jerry) Larson, and Mike (Julie) Buchholz, all of Hendricks, Kim (Dave) Nelson of Belle Fourche, SD, Kevin Buchholz of Hendricks. One exchange child; Jan Asmussen of Esbjerg, Denmark. 18 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson. Two Brothers; Arlon (Marty) Buchholz and Robert (Kathy) Buchholz. Two Sisters; Donna (Buzz) Durham and Eleanor Johannsen. Brothers-In-Law Chuck (Carol) Janes, Keith (Jan) Janes, Bob (Roxanne) Janes, David Janes, and Stephen Janes. Sisters-In-Law Janet Buchholz, Vicki Janes, Karen Vonderheide, and Janet Ballagh. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Waiting for him at the pearly gates: his parents, three of his brothers; James, Richard, and Donald, Brother-in-Law; Richard Janes, Sisters-In-Law Marilyn (Lawrence) and Helen (Donald) Tomaszewski, and Linda Janes.
