Service Information
Oria Albert Brinkmeier, age 90, of Lester Prairie, formerly of St. Paul, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 29, 2023.
Funeral Service will be held Saturday, February 4, 2023, 11:00 A.M., at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Lester Prairie, Minnesota, with a private family interment at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Visitation will be held Saturday, February 4, 2023, from 9:30 – 11:00 A.M., one and a half hours prior to the service at the church.
A farmer in his heart to his last day, ensuring that everyone had enough to eat was very important to Oria, if you so choose memorial donations may be made to McLeod Emergency Food Shelf attn: “Oria Brinkmeier Memorial” at https://mcleodemergencyfoodshelf.org/donate or mailed to McLeod Emergency Food Shelf, 719 13th St East, Glencoe, MN 55336.
Obituary
Oria Albert Brinkmeier was born on his family’s farm on October 3, 1932, in Lester Prairie, the son of Albert and Myrtle (Stapel) Brinkmeier.
Oria Brinkmeier and Myrna (Winkelmann) Brinkmeier were married in 1963, in Spencer, Iowa. Oria and Myrna settled in St. Paul, MN where they raised their three children, Gail, Arlan, and Laura.
Oria attended Concordia College in St. Paul, MN, with his time there being bifurcated by his army draft to serve in the Korean War. He earned a Ph.D. in 1967 from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, MN, and a Juris Doctorate from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, MN in 1974. Oria had a long career in higher education working as both an administrator and professor. He spent his last 21 years at Normandale Community College, retiring in 1993.
After Myrna’s death in 2003, Oria returned to the Brinkmeier family farm in Lester Prairie, where he farmed for many years, raising row crops, and a small herd of cattle until his death.
Oria was drawn to service in his community teaching AARP Driver Safety courses for many years, as an elder at St. Peter’s Lutheran, and serving in an elected role on the Board of Directors for the McLeod Cooperative Power for the past 18 years.
Oria loved discussing current events and if the discussion included a delicious cup of coffee with real cream and a slice of toast with lots of butter, it was all the better.
He was a lifelong member of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Lester Prairie, MN.
Oria entered his eternal rest on January 29, 2023, at the age of 90 years old. Blessed be his memory.
Oria is survived by his loving children; son, Arlan Brinkmeier; daughter-in-law, Sveta; beloved granddaughter, Sofia; daughter, Gail Brinkmeier; daughter, Laura Brinkmeier; sisters, Gloria Pofahl and Georgina Johnson; nieces and nephews, Darla Fromstein, Jennifer Miller (Scott), Janel Pofahl, Juli Pagel (Emil) and Tim Pofahl (Sarah); grandnieces and grandnephews, Sam Otto, Justin Fromstein, Samantha Fromstein, Amelia Miller, Gavin Miller, Maryann Pagel, Clara Pagel, Oliver Pagel, Riley Pofahl, and great-great niece Abigail Fromstein.
Oria was preceded in death by his father and mother, Albert and Myrtle Brinkmeier; wife, Myrna Brinkmeier; sister, Romona Horman; brother-in-law, John Horman; nephew, Gene Horman; brother-in-law, Russell Johnson.
Michelle and Duncan Cameron says
It is hard to imagine the seasons passing over us and our little place in the woods without Oria here to enjoy it with us, as he has for the past 20 years. He is already truly missed.
Aileen DeMenge says
What a wonderful man Oria was! He and I took our Certified Credentialed Director (CCD) classes together for our respective Cooperatives. He was a joy to know. May he rest in peace.
Earl Dammann says
TO THE FAMILY OF ORIA.. I’m sorry. Do to my wife’s medical condition was not able to attend Oria’s
what we call third birthday. (First birthday is birth, second birthday is Baptism, third birthday is HEAVEN