Harlan "Sort" Sortedahl, 90, Moose Lake, died Wednesday, April 15, 2020 in Mercy Hospital, Moose Lake.  He was born on May 10, 1929 to Ole and Lydia (Peterson) Sortedahl in Stillwater, MN.  Harlan was the oldest of 4 children and lived an independent life on a farm in Moose Lake where his family moved to so his father could work at the old Moose Lake State Hospital.  He was a popular and athletic student that was voted Homecoming King and graduated in 1947.  In 1951, Harlan joined the United States Army serving in the Korean War.  During his time in the service, Harlan worked on the railroad delivering supplies and troops.  After serving his country, Harlan continued working on the railroad and made this his life's profession.  After a blind date, Harlan married Geraldine Weigel and to this union 5 children were born.  They raised their family on a small farms in Munger and later Carlton while he continued to work on the railroad.  (His children think that the dairy farming was only to keep them busy and out of trouble!?)  There were always cousins coming up to help with haying or to enjoy a fishing or hunting adventure.  After retiring at 56 from the railroad, Harlan lived an independent and simple life, traveling throughout the US and Mexico in a small camper.  He raised race horses in Oklahoma, lived in Nevada and Arizona and finally settled down back in Moose Lake.

Harlan is preceded in death by his parents: Ole and Lydia Sortedahl; son: Brian Sortedahl; and brother: Kenneth Sortedahl.

He will be lovingly remembered by his four children: Judith (Zales) Anderson; Barb (Allan) Soukkala; Nancy (Jerry) Zelinski; and Kraig (Alyson) Sortedahl; many grandchildren and great grandchildren; a great great grandson; and two sisters: Laverna Rizner and Elaine Harvey.

The family would like to thank Augustana Mercy Health Care Center for their wonderful care which they gave to Harlan.  There will be services held at a later date with inurnment at Sawyer Cemetery.