Oltman “Okie” Honken, age 89, formerly of Luverne, Minnesota, passed away on Friday, February 27, 2026, at his home in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Visitation will be Thursday, March 5, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Hartquist Funeral Home in Luverne.
Funeral service will be Friday, March 6, at 11:00 a.m. at St. John Lutheran Church in Luverne. Burial will follow at Maplewood Cemetery in Luverne.
To view Okie’s life tribute or sign an online registry, please visit www.hartquistfuneral.com.
Oltman “Okie” Honken was born March 12, 1936, to Oltman and Jennie Honken in Hardwick, Minnesota. He was baptized at First Presbyterian Church in Edgerton, Minnesota. He was raised in the Hardwick/Nemeth area, attended country school north of Hardwick and Kenneth for grade school, and graduated from Luverne High School in 1954.
Following high school, he worked for Lampert Lumber Co. for three years and enlisted in the Army National Guard in 1957. After completing his basic training, he worked for Frakes Construction for 18 years.
He started his own construction business, Okie Honken Construction, in 1978, doing residential, concrete, and commercial projects in the three-state area.
On October 19, 1963, he was united in marriage to Cleone Swenson at Bethany Lutheran Church in Luverne. The couple made their home in Luverne. Okie and Cleone later moved to Touchmark at All Saints in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where Okie passed away on Friday, February 27, 2026, at 89 years, 11 months and 15 days.
Okie was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Luverne where he served as trustee and donated many hours doing upkeep and remodeling the kitchen. He was a member of the Luverne Community Hospital Board and was a charter member of the Hospital Foundation (Luverne Community Health Care Foundation).
He enjoyed fishing, especially with his grandsons, on their annual fishing trip.
Okie is survived by his wife, Cleone; two sons, Ronald (Cathy) Honken of Leota, Minnesota, and Randall (Carmen) Honken of Sartell, Minnesota; grandchildren, Reed, Riley, Mathew, Vanesa and Anna; and a brother, Robert (Sandy) Honken of Laramie, Wyoming.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and a sister, Elaine Torvelese.
