Darrol Herbert Sponberg died on Friday March 25, 2016 at the New Richland Care Center where he was loved and cared for by a wonderful staff. He was 83 years old.

Darrol was born on September 23, 1932 on the Sponberg farm, homesteaded by his great-grandfather in 1871, to Herbert and Lucille (Olson) Sponberg. He attended country school and New Richland High School. He graduated from Tucson, AZ High School where the family moved to because of his sister’s health. Later, he was made an honorary member of the New Richland Class of 1950.

He attended college at the University of Minnesota Farm Campus for only a short time because his parents were injured in a traffic accident and he was needed to help on the farm. He enlisted in the United States Army in 1953 and served in Korea toward the end of the war.

Darrol married Pauline ‘Polly’ Knutson on March 19, 1955 at Oakland Lutheran Church. That year, they started farming and kept the “Century Farm” going for 60 years. He was a lifelong member of Vista Lutheran Church where he was baptized and confirmed. He also was a member of the Lions Club, the American Legion, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. When Darrol was a young man he enjoyed playing baseball, bowling, golfing, and riding snowmobile. He obtained his private pilot’s license. He served on the Norwest Bank board and Sun Rich Waxy Corn board for several years. Many young men got their first job working for Darrol – driving sweetcorn trucks and hauling grain.

Darrol was preceded in death by his parents; sister LoRene (John) Coffman; brothers-in-law, Clare (Mavis) Knutson, Vernon Knutson, Byron Buley; sister-in-law, Ione (Tom) Morris; son-in-law, Terry Priebe.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Polly, of New Richland; son, David Sponberg (Lee); daughter, Paula Priebe and her children Madison, Jackson, and Allison; daughter, Karla Christopherson, Doug Christopherson and their girls Abby and Olivia; brother, Adryn (Donna) Sponberg of Fargo, ND; sister, Jana Lee Sponberg of Alexandria, VA; as well as many other loving family and friends.

Funeral services for Darrol Sponberg will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 29, 2016 at Vista Lutheran Church in rural New Richland, MN. Pastor Brian Gegel will officiate. Burial will be at Vista Lutheran Cemetery. Bonnerup Funeral Service is handling the arrangements.