Harland C. Angen

Harland Clifton Angen was born on January 14, 1924 in Minneapolis to Cliff and Edna (Anderson) Angen. Harland was seven years old when he moved to Alexandria with his folks. In 1942, he graduated from Alexandria High School. He enjoyed participation in the school choir and class plays almost equally as much as his studies. He furthered his education and in 1942 became a Flight Engineer with the Naval Transport Service in the area of the South Pacific. “We were the ones who carried the ‘flare pistol’ to signal for help,” he once explained, “and didn’t capture any island single-handed.” After Harland’s honorable discharge from the Navy in March of 1946, he returned to Alexandria and joined his father at Angen Auto Sales. Harland attended Geneva Motors Institute in Detroit, Michigan in 1947, returning to form a partnership with his father in the auto sales business and incorporating Angen Auto Sales in the early 1960s. Harland first met Vi, while sitting in church, waiting for the girl with the prettiest legs. They were married on August 15, 1948, and were blessed with three children, Carl, Sue, and Scott. In 1965, Harland and Jerry VanKempen started a lifelong friendship that was unsurpassed. The two had an hour-long radio show every Saturday morning, airing on KXRA-Radio. Their easy, amusing and unrehearsed style “brought culture to Alexandria,” and was called the Harland and Jerry Mess. It ran for at least 18 years and radio in Alexandria has never been the same. Singing was always a favorite hobby for Harland and for more than 25 years he sang with the Calvary Church Choir, being soloist on various occasions. He was one of the original members of the Runic Male Chorus and sang with The Resorters, a popular barbershop quartet. Harland also enjoyed flying, earning his private license in 1946. He served as a board member for over 14 years with Selective TV and over 13 years as a bus driver with District #206. Mr. Angen was a past-president of the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce as well as the Kiwanis Club. In 1969 he was chosen by the Alexandria Jaycees as “Boss of the Year.” He served as Sunday School Superintendent and was a member of the Board of Trustees at Calvary Lutheran Church. He held memberships in the American Legion, The Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Masons, Shriners, and the Elks. Harland’s family was the most important part of his life. He loved all his family equally. He relished the time he spent with each of them, constantly teaching them the values of life. He taught most of them how to drive, swim and water ski. Of course his beloved Vi was the one who received his love the most. He cherished every moment he had with her, whether sitting together in his red leather chair, dancing the night away, or their countless hours working at Calvary Lutheran Church. Harland was a kind and generous man who will be missed by all who knew and loved him. Harland died at Bethany Home in Alexandria, Minnesota on Tuesday, April 12, 2016, at the age of 92. He is survived by his wife of 67 years “the love of his life” Violet Angen; children, Carl (Betty) Nyberg of Fridley, Sue (Jon) Hanson of Canby, and Scott Angen of Alexandria; grandchildren Julie (Paul) Dymit of Plymouth, Amy (Paul) Nentwig of Roseville, Jaime Hanson of Orlando, FL, Adam Angen of Alexandria, Miranda Angen of Alexandria, Ariel (A.J.) Wheeler of Flagstaff, AZ, and Megan Hanson of Slayton; 14 great grandchildren; one great great grandson; sisters Lucille (Hal) Romig, Vivian Godfrey, Norma (Mickey) Schlien, and Doris Johnson; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and grandson Jacob Hanson. To Harland Angen, every day was worth getting up for, his happiness didn’t “just happen,” instead, it was a method of life. Blessed be the life of Harland Angen. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, April 16, 2016 at 9:30AM at Calvary Lutheran Church in Alexandria. A visitation will be held from 5-7PM on Friday at the Anderson Funeral Home To view the video tribute, follow the link below: https://www.tributeslides.com/tributes/show/F8WZ86Z98PC7Q5P8

Harland C. Angen

January 14, 1924 - April 12, 2016