Willard James Ballantyne, 96, formerly of Brownsdale, Minnesota, entered the home of his heavenly father Sunday evening, May 24, 2015, at St. Mark’s Lutheran Home in Austin.

He was born June 4, 1918, in Alden, Iowa, the eldest son of Charles and Cynthia (Herme) Ballantyne. He was baptized in the Lutheran church. The family moved to a farm in Newry Township, Freeborn County, Minnesota, in 1921 where Willard attended school. He was confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church. He married the love of his life, Mildred Kirchner, at Grace Lutheran Church in Austin on Feb. 21, 1944. Willard and Mildred resided on several farms, as he was a foreman for nine years. They farmed their own land near Rose Creek for 35 years, retired to Brownsdale in 1984, and moved to Austin in 2012. Willard loved gardening, flowers, dancing, music, playing cards, farming and volunteer work. He was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Austin. He served on the church council for six years, served as treasurer of St. John’s Lutheran Church Cemetery of rural Elkton for 24 years, the Farm Bureau Board, cancer and Red Cross volunteer and helped with 4-H club. Willard and Mildred were Mower County king and queen for their volunteer work in 2002.

Survivors include his wife, Mildred of Austin; five children: Helen (Richard) Schnorenberg of Lawler, Iowa, Joyce (Roger) Kamrath of North Mankato, Minnesota, Marvin (Judy) Ballantyne of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Nancy (Todd) Wiessner of Woodbury, Minnesota, and Sue (Gregory) Brown of Gilbert, Arizona; 12 grandchildren: Lori (Randy) Shatek, Jodi (Brian) Gager, Scott (Kelly) Kamrath, Wendy Ballantyne, Aaron Ballantyne, Leslie (Daniel) Rosedahl, Lauren Wilcox, Kevin (Megan) Wiessner, Emily Wiessner, Evan Wilcox, Jessica (Tyler) Rogers and Gregory Brown; 13 great grandchildren: Nathan Shatek, Brandon Shatek, Tyler Shatek, Colin Shatek, McKenna Gager, Addison Gager, Olivia Sehn, Zachariah Zomer, Sarah Zomer, Kiah Klinsing, Owen Rosedahl, Grant Wiessner and Britta Wiessner; his sister, Bertha Christianson of Austin; brother-in-law, Philip (Joyce) Skolte of Eagle Bend, Minnesota; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters: Florence Ebert and Mary Skolte; brothers: Ray, Charles and James; his grandsons: Michael Schnorenberg and Brian Kamrath; granddaughter, Kari Kamrath.

Services will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, May 29, 2015, at Grace Lutheran Church in Austin with the Rev. Jeffrey Forbes officiating. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Worlein Funeral Home in Austin and at the church one hour prior to the service. Interment is at St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery, rural Elkton. The family prefers memorials to Grace Lutheran Church or the Salvation Army Food Drive. Condolences may be expressed to the family online atwww.worlein.com.