Warren Veien, 87, Owatonna
Warren Sigurd Veien, age 87, of Owatonna, passed away on Sunday, July 13, 2025, at Birchwood Cottages.
Warren was born Dec. 10, 1937, to Sigurd (Barney) and Lorraine (Paulson) Veien, in Austin. He grew up on a farm in Lemond Township. Warren was confirmed at Pontoppidan Lutheran Church. He attended country school through eighth grade and then he went to the Ag school in Waseca. After he graduated in 1955, he enrolled in the Navy Reserves.
In 1957, he married Norma Johnson, and they had two daughters Vicki and Lisa. They later divorced.
After becoming licensed as a plumber, he lived in Waseca and worked for Modern Plumbing and Heating. Later he moved to Owatonna and worked for Flom Plumbing for several years before moving to Darby, Mont., in 1978.
The first year in Montana, Warren and his family lived and worked on the Chief Joseph Ranch. They actually lived in same lodge that is now famous in the TV series Yellowstone. Warren had a desire to study the Bible, so he attended a Bible college for one year in Hamilton, Mont. After that, he bought a storefront in Darby and owned and operated Veien's Plumbing and Heating business for over 15 years until he moved back to Minnesota.
On Nov. 4, 1999, Warren married Mary Orndoff. They lived in Mazeppa for several years before moving to Owatonna in 2015 to be closer to family. During their years in Mazeppa, Warren joined the Goodhue Sheriff Posse and the Pine Island Riders (Saddle Club). Together, Warren and Mary went on several wagon train rides all over the country.
Warren had horses his entire life. While in Montana he used his Draft (Shires) horses for everything from working his ranch, riding in parades, and competing in draft horse competitions, which brought home many trophies. Warren was known to be quite the jokester who always had a grin on his face, a twinkle in his eye, and a trick up his sleeve. Warren was a proud Norwegian who loved life and was always up for a good adventure. Warren enjoyed going on wagon trains and trail riding, attending the Owatonna Fair, woodworking, metalworking, training horses and mules and starting each day with a prayer. The most important things in his life were his Faith in God, his wife, family, friends, and, of course, his horses.
Warren is survived by his wife Mary, daughters Vicki (Stephen) Fleming, Elysian and Lisa (Steven) Vaith, Blooming Prairie; grandchildren Jessica (Dan) Greenwood and their children Trevor, Madisson, Max and Oliver; Jonathan (Rebecca) Fleming and their children Reid, Ophelia and Ezra; Daniel Fleming (Missy Lindquist) and his children Dylan and Jayden; Leah (Brad) Petrie; Zachary Ribbe; siblings Richard Veien and Sharron Timmer; as well as many nieces andnephews.
Warren is preceded in death by his parents, sister-in-law Alice Veien, brother-in-law David Timmer; and several aunts and uncles.
A celebration of life will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, at Pontoppidan Lutheran Church, 9651 SW 75th St. Ellendale. Visitation will take place an hour before church service.
The family would like to extend their gratitude towards the staff at Birchwood Cottages and Moments Hospice for the loving care Warren received.
In lieu of flowers the family asks you to consider donating to Pontoppidan Lutheran Church or the Alzheimer's Foundation.