Lilen Kuhlman, age 94, of Fulda, Minnesota, formerly of Tyler, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on Friday, September 4, 2026, at the Maplewood Court Assisted Living in Fulda. Visitation will be held on Thursday, September 10, 2026, from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM, with a time for sharing memories at 5:30 PM, at the Hartquist Funeral Home in Tyler. Funeral Service will be held Friday, September 11, 2026, at 10:30 AM at the Peace Lutheran Church in Ruthton, Minnesota. Interment will follow at the Ruthton City Cemetery in Ruthton. Arrangements have been entrusted to Hartquist Funeral Home – Tyler Chapel.
Lilen Muriel Kuhlman was born on July 10, 1932 to Nate and Muriel (Fritz) Nelson in Worthington, Minnesota. The family lived in Worthington for the first five years of her life and then moved to Pipestone, Minnesot, where Lilen was baptized on June 27, 1941. She graduated from Pipestone High School in Pipestone in 1950. On March 16, 1951, Lilen was united in marriage to Marvin Kuhlman at Peace Lutheran Church in Ruthton. The couple began their married life living on Marvin’s home farm and remained there until 1990 when they moved to Tyler, Minnesota. Lilen devoted her life to helping on the farm and raising their four children. In November of 2004, Marvin passed away. In 2017, Lilen moved into an apartment in Tyler where she remained until she moved into Maplewood Court Assisted Living in Fulda, Minnesota in 2023. Lilen passed away peacefully at her home on Friday, September 4, 2026, at the age of 94 years, one months and 25 days. Lilen was a member of Peace Lutheran Church in Ruthton. She was very involved in the church, fulfilling such roles as Sunday School Teacher, Luther League Advisor, Peace LCW President, church librarian, and participating in the choir and church council. She was a member of the Ruthton Clowns, later called the Hart Clowns, and the Grandmothers Club. Lilen was on the board at Danebod Village and also on the Shetek Bible Camp Board for many years. She delivered Meals On Wheels and communion to shut-ins and was instrumental in getting the Ruthton Meal site established. Lilen’s truest joy in life was taking care of her family, she served others in every action she did. She lived her life as a life of service and being a mother to all.
Lilen is lovingly remembered by her four children, Wanda (Joseph) Carpenter of Willmar, Minnesota, Cheryl (David) Thiner of Fulda, Minnesota, Karen (Alan) Goergen of Marshall, Minnesota, and Ivan (Tracey) Kuhlman of Ruthton; 12 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and 1 great-great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by her husband, Marvin; grandsons, Richard Austin, Jr. and Patrick Austin; granddaughters, Tiffany Kuhlman and Mariah Reisland; son-in-law, Richard Austin; siblings, Merle Nelson (in infantsy), Harry Johnson, Pauline Dykstra, Richard Nelson, Sylvia Steuck, and Zenith Story; and her parents, Nate and Muriel Nelson.
