Eldon "Barney" Wiese

Eldon “Barney” Wiese passed away peacefully on May 11, 2024, at his ranch surrounded by his family. Eldon was born August 3, 1925, near Omaha, Nebraska. He was the twelfth child of Edith (Clemens) and Louis Wiese. On May 4, 1935, because of the dust bowl, both Eldon and Shirley’s family moved from Mullen Nebraska to Jenkins, Minnesota. Eldon married his high school sweetheart Shirley Allan on September 29, 1945.

In 1975 Eldon held the first annual production bull sale at his place. He officially founded the Flying W Ranch in 1945 on land originally owned by his father and lived to see the fifth generation being raised on his ranch. In 1949, Eldon’s dad bought the first load of Angus cows from Pipestone, Minnesota and Eldon continued raising Angus cattle for the remainder of his life. He was one of the founding members of the Minnesota Cattlemen’s Association and was the first president of the association, holding that position for 10 years. Eldon was on the Cass County Fair Board for 35 years. He enjoyed raising cattle, gardening, teaching his grandkids how to ranch, square dancing with his wife, and meeting with his classmates once a month.

Eldon and Shirley had four children: Jeanette Smith, Richard Wiese, Danny Wiese, and Julie Schermann. He had 12 grandchildren: Brian (Nicole) Smith, Greg (Kathie) Smith, Jonah (Kristin) Smith, Juanita Dice, Sherry (Ben) Andrews, Alicia (Ross) Borman, Nicole (Kaleb) Crawford, Josh (Chaia) Schermann, Lacey (Brian) Haag, Dustin (Katie) Wiese, Cody (Jenna) Wiese, and Amy Wiese. He also had 19 great-grandchildren: Joe and Gertie Dice; Ripley, Amisty, Amira, Race, Taylor, and Nicolas Smith; Bryce and Brody Borman; Trace and Caden Haag; Karson, Ellie, Mabel, and Jax Crawford; Owen, Levi, and Derek Wiese. He was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years Shirley; his son, Danny Wiese; and his siblings:  Anna (Earl) Yaryan, Elmer (Ruby) Wiese, Arthur (Grace) Wiese, Tilly (Sid) Rice, Louis (Rosalie) Wiese, Leona (Nelver) Evenson, Nellie (Roy) Scofield, Harry (Nena) Wiese, Harold “Mike” (Janet) Wiese, Dorothy (Clell) Swift, and Donald Wiese.

Services will be 11 AM on Friday, May 17, at First Lutheran Church, Pine River. Visitation will be Thursday from 5 to 7 PM at Kline Funeral Home, Pine River, and one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be in Pine Ridge Cemetery, Pine River.