Loren Huebert Defries was born on May 22, 1939, to Huebert and Buena Gladys (Converse) Defries in Milaca, Minnesota. He graduated from Windom High School. Loren enlisted in the United States Air Force on March 12, 1959, and served his country for four years as an airplane mechanic, until being honorable discharged on January 14, 1963. He then served in the Army Reserve for two years.

On April 17, 1964, Loren was united in marriage to Glenda Rae Belz at the Lutheran Church of Our Savior in Windom, Minnesota. The couple was blessed with four children, Denise, Kevin, Rhonda, and Lance. Loren worked as an agronomist for USS Steel/Kaiser Aztech and Country Pride Service Cooperative for over thirty years. He retired in 2001.

Loren was a longtime member of the Lutheran Church of Our Savior in Windom and then the First United Methodist Church in Windom. He was very active in the community and was a member of the Lion's Club, Ducks Unlimited, Windom EDA, and the American Legion Post #206 of Windom.

In his retirement, Loren kept busy running parts for Lance and driving cars for Higley Ford. He was an avid gardener who enjoyed camping, hunting, fishing, and picking asparagus in road ditches. He played cribbage, cards and he canned. Loren was very particular when it came to lawn care and took pride in mowing at home and at school.

Loren passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family, as an inpatient at Sanford Worthington Medical Center, on Wednesday, April 12, 2023.

Left to cherish Loren's memory are his four children, Denise Wirtz of Windom, Kevin Defries of Windom, Rhonda Petersen of Windom, and Lance (Jill) Defries of Windom; 8 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; two siblings, Norma (Jody) Horkey of Crawford, NE, and Karla (Pat) Mullennix of Amarillo, TX; as well as many other relatives and friends.

Loren was preceded in death by his wife, Glenda Defries; his parents; two brothers, Garry Defries and Lenis Defries; and one sister, Karmen Mullennix.

Blessed be the memory of Loren Defries.

A Celebration of Life Service for Loren Defries, age 83, of Windom, will be held Monday, April 17th at 10:30 AM at the First United Methodist Church in Windom, with Pastor Mike McInnis officiating. The burial will be at Lakeview Cemetery in Windom. Military honors will be provided by the American Legion Post 206 of Windom, MN.

A time of visitation and gathering will be held Sunday, April 16th from 4:00-7:00 PM at LaCanne Family Celebration of Life Center in Windom. Visitation will continue Monday, April 17th at the church for one hour prior to the celebration of life.