Earl Allen Ness, of Albert Lea, died on June 23, 2006, at the age of 86 years, from the complications of Parkinson’s Disease. A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 1, at Ascension Lutheran Church. The Rev. David Beckstrom will officiate. Interment will be at Graceland Cemetery. Visitation will be held Friday, June 30, at Bonnerup Funeral Chapel from 4 to 7 p.m. and one hour prior to the service on Saturday.

Earl was born May 3, 1920, to Martin and Wilda (Nelson) Ness of rural Albert Lea. Earl was baptized and confirmed at First Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. He was a member of First Lutheran Church and most recently of Ascension Lutheran Church. Earl grew up on the family farm, and attended Glenville and Albert Lea Schools. As a youth, he was involved in 4-H and the Rural Youth Organization. He graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1938 and the University of Minnesota School of Agriculture in 1940. Earl was editor-in-chief of the &8220;School of Agriculture News.&8221;

Earl farmed with his father and took over the family farm in 1946. Earl married Elaine Cederstrom on June 19, 1946, in Watertown. He developed one of the highest producing dairy herds in Minnesota. He served on a number of farm organizational boards, including Albert Lea Co-op Creamery, Mid-America Dairyman, and the Freeborn County Dairy Herd Improvement Association. He continued to help his sons with the crops and livestock after his retirement.

His wife Elaine died June 12, 1991, from complications of Parkinson’s Disease. Earl married Gertrude (Sather) Mondeel on Sept. 24, 1992. They lived on the farm until they moved to Bancroft Creek Estates in 2003. Earl moved to a nursing home for increased care in February 2006.

He is survived by his wife, Gertrude Ness; his son, Phil and wife Mary, and daughters, Sondra and Alysia; his daughter, Lois Steiger, and daughters, Laura and husband Josh Clark, and Kay; his son, Bruce and wife Eileen, and sons, Brent and wife Katherine, Stuart, and Scott; his stepchildren, Mark Mondeel, and children, Leslie and Ben; David Mondeel and wife Sue, and daughters, Laura and Erin; Paul Mondeel, and daughter, Krista; Jane and husband James Sewald, and their sons, Corey, Chris, and Keith; Ann and husband Kieth Carlson, and son, Gerrit; and step-great-granddaughter Clara; two brothers, Willard and wife Earline Ness and Russ and wife Joan Ness; other brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law and many nieces and nephews.

Other family members that preceded Earl in death are his parents, Martin and Wilda Ness; his son-in-law, Bruce Steiger; and his granddaughter, Megan Steiger.