Orval Dean Freitag was born at home in Carlos Township, Douglas County, Minnesota. He was the 7th of 11 children born to his parents Otto and Emma (Jobe) Freitag. He grew up on a farm between Carlos and Miltona and attended country school near Miltona.

As a young man, he worked as a hired hand at John Schumaker's farm in Carlos, before moving to Spokane, Washington, where he worked doing housekeeping in the hospitality industry. Orval only stayed in Spokane for a short time before moving to Minneapolis, where he worked for CF Industries. It was during this time in his life when he met his future wife, Gayle Beatty, at a party given by his brother. Orval hadn't known Gayle very long before telling her, "I'm going to marry you someday". Shortly thereafter they moved to Glenwood, Minnesota. The two were married by a justice of the peace at the courthouse in Alexandria on Jan. 15, 1980. After moving to Glenwood, Orval worked for Alder Schlief on his farm and later for RC Machines in Glenwood until his retirement.
Orval was a kind man who would "tell it like it is" and then follow up with a joke or a funny statement to lighten the mood. When you were sad he always knew just what to say. Orval enjoyed spoiling all of his nieces and nephews and their children and was a surrogate Grandpa to many. Orval opened his heart and home to many in need and would see the good in people and help them on their journey. Orval and Gayle enjoyed playing cards and dice with company or just the two of them, until he found the computer had card games and that was his joy when it was quiet around the house. He enjoyed watching polka on television and listening to polka music.

Orval passed away peacefully at his home in Glenwood early on December 16, 2018.

Orval is survived by his wife of 39 years, Gayle Patricia Freitag, of Glenwood, his daughter, Darlene Alexander of Pierre, South Dakota; two sisters, Sharon Senneka of Minneapolis and Eldonna Genrich of Alexandria; a brother, Orris Freitag of Blaine; brother-in-law Don Ostenson; a sister-in-law, Betty Freitag as well as nieces, nephews, other family members and many friends.

Orval was preceded in death by his parents, Otto and Emma Freitag; his step-mother Maida Freitag; four brothers, Leonard, Arnold, Vernon and Wilbur Freitag; three sisters, Eldorene Zastrow-Ellertson, Darlene Botner-Cate, and Rose Johnson; a sister-in-law, Karen Freitag; and three brother-in-laws, Archie Botner, Ron Cate and Art Ellertson.