Memorial Folder

Ernest Otto Redlin Jr. was born in Lambert, MT on April 15, 1918 to Ernest and Hattie (Grawunder) Redlin. He was the eldest of five sons. As a youngster he lived on the family farm attending the rural Three Buttes School for his first eight grades. The family then moved to Minneapolis, MN, where he graduated from Roosevelt High School, returning to the family farm in the summers. Ernie attended the University of Minnesota and later the University of Washington in Seattle, where he studied engineering, before deciding to pursue farming as his life-long career. His engineering and mechanical skills came in handy on the family farm, where he designed, built and operated his own tractor for 14 years. Faith and farming were among Ernie’s passions. He was a lifetime member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Sidney, serving in several leadership capacities over the years. He was also a longtime member of the Lutheran Laymen’s League and attended that group’s national conventions for many years. Ernie was also a member of many farm organizations and had a leadership role in the formation of the Richland County (MT) Farmer’s Union. He had a long-time interest in and studied diligently the practice of organic farming, attending many seminars and conventions in the field. He strongly believed in and promoted farmer-owned cooperatives and credit unions, and was a charter member of Richland Federal Credit Union in Sidney.
An avid reader and baseball lover, Ernie had a broad array of interests. As a young man he pitched for the Lambert eastern league baseball team and earned his pilot’s license, flying his own plane for 10 years. He also traveled extensively throughout his life, including visits to the Philippines, Africa (Zaire, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt), Nicaragua, Mexico and all across the continental U.S. and Hawaii. Ernie also loved playing cards, an activity he particularly enjoyed later in life with his friends at Crestwood Inn and the Sidney and Lambert Senior Citizens Centers.
Ernie passed away Friday, October 30, at the Sidney Health Center in Sidney, MT at 91 years of age.
Ernie is survived by: two brothers, Rolland (Christine) Redlin, Rapid City, SD and Gerald (Elsie) Redlin, Sidney, MT; a sister-in-law, Lois Redlin, of Crosby, ND; 18 nieces and nephews, Dan (Darlene) Redlin, Colorado Springs, CO, Ilene (Daniel) Redlin Christian, St. Cloud, MN, Jenny (John) Redlin Johnson, Singapore, Steve (Lynn) Redlin, Portland, OR, Lisa (Bob) Westlake, Rapid City, SD, Jeff (Misty) Redlin, Lebanon, OR, Jon (Karen) Redlin, Lambert, MT, Beth (Dan) Redlin Mocko, Sidney, MT, Meredith Redlin, Brookings, SD, ‘Than Redlin, Bloomington, MN, Brad (Erin) Jordahl Redlin, St. Anthony’s Village, MN, Marcus (Karen) Redlin, Eagan, MN, Kelsey (Bill) Redlin Kintner, Port Angeles, WA, Tim (Jenny) Redlin, Crosby, ND, Mark Redlin, Port Angeles, WA, Kathy (Cory) Hermanson, South Heart, ND, Joel (Michelle) Holeman Redlin, Hamilton, MT, and Dave Redlin, Missoula, MT; several cousins and numerous grand and great grand nieces and nephews.
Ernest was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Ward and Robert Redlin; and a niece and nephew, Kristi and Bruce Redlin.