Visitation will be on Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022 from 4-7 p.m. at the Sturm Funeral Home-Pilgrim Chapel, and will continue on Friday from 10-11 a.m. at the Faith Lutheran Church-Madelia.

Service will be held at the Faith Lutheran Church-Madelia on Friday, Aug. 12, 2022, at 11 a.m.

The clergy will be the Rev. Kelly Heide. Interment will be at the Rosendale Pioneer Cemetery in rural Madelia.

Arrangements are with the Sturm Funeral Home-Pilgrim Chapel in Madelia. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.sturmfh.com.

Curt was born in Madelia on Aug. 3, 1936, to Vernon and Hazel (Lewis) Archerd. He was raised on the farm southwest of Madelia along with his siblings Virginia (Morgan), Lewis, Donald and Audrey (Tierney). Curt attended first through fourth grades at rural District 10 Springbrook School and fifth through eighth grades at Madelia. After losing his mother to polio when he was 8 years old, he spent time in the homes of his aunt, Essie (Archerd), and uncle, Earl Mather; aunt, Flossie (Lewis), and uncle Hibbard Thompson; cousins, Viola (Brown) and Rudy Paulson, and Marjorie (Keech) and David Parker.

Curt was employed by Gopher Concrete in Madelia 1956-57 and 1959-69. He worked for area farmers Edmund Pietsch, Bob Johnson and Wayne Kevan, as well as himself. He and his cousin, Lowell Mather, farmed together from 1968-85.

In 1963 he and his friends Don Rooney, Frank Minie and Gene Ogle made a trip to Oceanside, California, where he worked as a foreman on a construction crew, building the barracks on Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base.

He was employed by Culligan Water in Madelia in 1970-72, delivering water softener salt and tanks.

He drove a Madelia School bus from 1969-82.

From 1988 to 2010, Curt was employed by Cliff Viessmann Trucking of Mankato, Minnesota, as a long-haul semi operator, a job and employer that he remembered fondly in later years.

He then held the position of custodian at the rest area on Highway 60 east of St. James until retiring.

Curt learned to play the Chemnitzer style concertina from Norbert Gag of New Ulm. He was a short-term fill-in for the Six Fat Dutchmen polka band, making a trip with them to Texas. In the early 1980s, he made several appearances on the local television program “Band Wagon,” along with a number of other musicians.

Curt was united in marriage to Betty Vorwerk on March 26, 1954; they were the parents of Bonnie, Kim and Dawn. Curt and Betty later divorced.

Curt and Lois Jensen married on June 18, 1966; they were the parents of Mandi, Becki, Rani and Derek.

Curt enjoyed vintage tractors of all kinds, fellowship with friends and family, and a brief stint at rose gardening.

He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings; wives, Betty and Lois; daughter, Dawn Garland and son, Derek.

He is survived by his daughters, Bonnie Grochow (Roger), Kim Koser (Mark), Mandi Dirksen (Kevin), Becki Archerd and Rani Archerd; 16 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; and many cherished friends.

The family wishes to recognize with gratitude the caring staff at Ridgeway on German and Oak Hills Living Center of New Ulm.

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