A Celebration of Life Service to honor the life and legacy of Irv Sether, age 89, of Bergen, will be held Saturday, January 10th, at 11:00 AM at the Bethel Mennonite Church in Mountain Lake. Burial will be in Hauge's Cemetery in rural Jackson.

A visitation for Irv will be held on Friday, January 9th from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM at the LaCanne Family Celebration of Life Center in Jackson. Visitation will continue on Saturday at the Bethel Mennonite Church in Mountain Lake for one hour prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers and gifts, memorial donations in memory of Irv are preferred to Hauge's Cemetery Association or Bethel Mennonite Church.

Irvin "Irv" Jon Sether was born on December 16, 1936, the eldest son of Horace and Margaret (Thomson) Sether in Jackson, MN. He was baptized and confirmed in the Hauges Lutheran Church, rural Jackson County. He grew up on the farm and attended country school District 100 through 8th grade and graduated from Jackson High School in 1954. He attended Mankato State Teachers College one winter semester, then attended and graduated from the University of MN School of Ag in St. Paul, MN. Driving home from St. Paul one weekend, he gave a student nurse a ride to her home by Mountain Lake. That car ride later resulted in a marriage of over 65 years to Virginia (Gin) Pabst, as they were married in April 1960. Over the years four children were welcomed into the family - Brian, Cheryl, Denise, and Eric.

A 5th generation farmer, Irv farmed with his father, Horace, and his brother, Richard. He served on the Jackson School Board for ten years, during the time the current high school was built. Irv was also instrumental in organizing the MN Corn Growers Assn where he was a charter member, the first Vice President, and the first chairman of the MN Corn Promotion Board. Нe was also a national director and the first Minnesotan to hold NCGA executive office. He was given the MN Corn Growers Hall of Fame award in 1986. Irv was also a director for AURI (Ag Utilization and Research Institute) for many years. He was also active in local and state Pork Producers organizations. Irv served in many leadership roles in his church, Bethel Mennonite in Mt. Lake.

Irv loved to sing, and he was a member of the Jackson Barbershop Chorus until they disbanded. He then became a charter member of the Windom Area Chordhustlers Chorus. He sang in several quartets over the years, but the last and longest was "Original Blend." Irv was involved in barbershop singing for over 71 years!

Irv also loved spending time with his family, coaching 4-H softball, working with livestock for the county fair, camping, and snowmobiling. His life was rooted in faith, family, farming, and music.

Irv passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 1st, 2026, at the Good Samaritan Society Sogge Memorial in Windom.

Irv is survived by his wife of 65 years, Gin Sether; children, Brian Sether of Jackson, Cheryl (Jim) Bass of Jackson, Denise (Steve) Ryberg of Jackson, Eric Sether of Worthington; seven grandchildren, Brittany (Logan) McLennan, Kassi (Tyson) Pierce, Brandi (Jared) Barrie, Brady Bass, Haley (Tyler) Bass, Courtney (Michael) Blesi, Logan Ryberg; 4 great-grandchildren, Mila, Liara, Luka and Kaila; brothers, Ronald Sether of Fresno, CA, Richard Sether of Jackson; sister-in-law, Bev (Art) Carlson of Odin; and brother-in-law, Roger Pabst of Redwood Falls.

Irv was preceded in death by his parents, Horace and Margaret Sether; stepmother Iola Sether; parents-in-law, Joseph and Martha Pabst; as well as a sister-in-law, Sondra Sether.