A Tribute to Harlan and Dorothy Maland

A legacy rooted in the land

For nearly 160 years, the Maland family has cared for this land in southern Minnesota — a legacy recognized by its Century Farm designation. Here, the land served them through planting and harvest, big years and lean ones, shaping lives as steady and generous as the soil beneath their feet.

The family’s story began here in 1866, when John J. Maland emigrated from Norway. His original homestead passed down through generations — from John J. to John M., to Henry M, and finally to Harlan. In this part of Faribault County, Harlan and Dorothy Maland carried that heritage forward with their six children — Portia, Chuck, Beth, David, Joan, and Jane.

Growing up in Faribault County

The Norwegian community of Frost and the surrounding area was close-knit, bound by the common threads of language, faith, and tradition. Harlan grew up immersed in that heritage, attending the Dell school, buying goods at the Dell Store and worshiping at the Dell Church where services were in Norwegian — a fact that might seem surprising today.

In Frost, neighbors knew one another’s rhythms — who was visiting from where, which fields were ready, and when someone could use a hand. Shared seasons brought shared tools, shared tables, and shared prayers. Here, Harlan learned early that tending a farm meant caring for your neighbors, too. That desire to serve led him to consider becoming a pastor, so he began classes at St. Olaf University. But when World War II broke out, he returned home to help on the farm as the oldest son.

Dorothy, raised in nearby Bricelyn, grew up with similar values. She met Harlan at a basketball game — where she was a cheerleader and he was a referee — and that first spark eventually led to their marriage in 1946. Together, Harlan and Dorothy worked hard to build up the farm and create a warm, loving home where their children thrived.

Dorothy and Harlan Maland.

Take his tractor, for example. In Harlan’s day, there were no tractor cabs. Most farmers just bundled up a little tighter and tried not to freeze. Not Harlan. He built his own enclosure — a proper wooden box of a cab, fitted with a screen and glass window depending on the temperature, perched atop the tractor. It looked a bit like a homemade fort on wheels — and maybe it was. But while his family chuckled, they were also proud of his ingenuity and how he used it to grow their farm to over 1,200 acres of cultivated land.

Harlan’s knack for invention was a culmination of his creativity and a belief that he could use what he had around him to make life run a little more efficiently. He was gifted at tinkering with machinery, from farm equipment to classic cars, and sometimes enlisted the whole family to help. The Maland kids remember working together to assemble a grain bin, everyone side-by-side to put in the screws and lift up the panels.

As the world grew more modern, Harlan kept that same spark. He was one of the first in the area to invest in home movie equipment, recording the early moments of his children’s lives. For him, it wasn’t just technology. It was memory — preserving the moments that make a life. It became a favorite family tradition to replay these movies every Christmas.

Harlan brought charisma into every part of his life. Outgoing and dynamic, he could strike up a conversation with anyone and leave a trail of good humor behind him. That energy also fueled his love of sports, whether playing, watching, or cheering at his children’s games and matches. Farming taught him discipline, patience, and stewardship; sports gave him laughter, camaraderie, and a way to share his enthusiasm with others.

Dorothy: The heart of home

While Harlan directed much of his energy toward the fields, Dorothy was the heartbeat of the home. Caring, devoted, and endlessly attentive, she made space for everyone — listening closely, offering guidance and grace when needed, and quietly shaping a household filled with warmth, laughter, and love.

Dorothy had a remarkable ability to know what her children needed, but mothering wasn’t something she simply relied on instinct for; she put great care into it. “When you have a child,” she once said, “it’s earthshaking to realize you’re responsible for another life.” That deep sense of responsibility led her to be very intentional in how she raised her children, making sure they had every chance to learn, grow, and discover the world beyond the farm.

Though she loved raising their family in a small community, Dorothy also knew it was important for her kids to experience art, culture, and new ideas. She watched for special opportunities to bring the family to “the Cities” — moments that would open their imaginations. One especially memorable trip was an early screening of The Sound of Music. The whole family braved a winter storm to drive 120 miles where they enjoyed being swept away by the magic of it all.

The Maland children saw their mother’s deep love, brilliant mind, and the spark of joy and beauty she brought into every corner of their home. In 1979, they nominated Dorothy for the Minnesota Merit Mother of the Year award, an honor she treasured. It was perhaps one of the greatest tributes they could offer her — a testament of their love and gratitude. The story was featured in the Blue Earth Post, where Dorothy said the best part of being selected as runner-up was “knowing your kids would write you a recommendation. I’m thrilled my kids did this for me.”

As a lifelong learner and voracious reader, Dorothy also kept a keen eye on current events and their impact on the world, ever eager to understand more. While raising her children, she returned to school to study social work at Mankato State — a continuation of the academic journey she began years earlier at the University of Minnesota before getting married. She pursued knowledge with the same diligence she brought to every part of her life — a trait that inspired her kids to love learning, as well. Whether advising on home décor, serving in the community, or simply reading and reflecting, Dorothy approached the world with intelligence, grace, and an open mind.

Life in community

Beyond their work at home and on the farm, Harlan and Dorothy also shaped the community they loved. They didn’t seek the spotlight; they simply stepped forward to do their part — serving on the school board, at church, and on community committees. They wove their lives into the fabric of Frost and, later, Blue Earth.

Harlan brought his characteristic warmth, humor, and energy, while Dorothy, steady and thoughtful, served with wise insight and care. Together, they lived out their faith through service expressed as daily habits that touched everyone around them. Amid their many commitments, they never lost sight of what mattered most. A family friend once noted, “The greatest characteristic both Harlan and Dorothy have is the ability to stop and take time to listen to people. That seems a rare trait today.”

Their children saw the way they paired humility with integrity and energy with patience, living out the simple truth that a meaningful life is measured not just in personal accomplishments, but in how you lift others. Today, Portia, Chuck, Beth, David, Joan, and Jane carry forward that legacy, weaving their parents’ values into the lives of their children and grandchildren.

So as the wind sweeps over what was once the Maland property, it carries more than memories of planting and harvest. It holds the echoes of a family who nurtured not only the fields, but the people around them — an enduring legacy of stewardship, generosity, and faith.

In honor of their parents, the Maland children are passing the care of the family homestead to another local farmer, ensuring that its story — and its promise — will be faithfully stewarded for generations to come.