M Kerkvliet
12-20-2007, 10:38 AM
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Robert Garfield Aakre
Robert Garfield Aakre, age 81, died December 18, 2007 at his home in Rollag, Minnesota. He was surrounded by his children, and his loving wife of 59 years, Ardis. He had been under the care of Hospice of the Red River Valley.
Robert, the son of Carl A. and Mabel J. (Nelson) Aaker was born on February 9, 1926 on his parents’ farm in Parke Township, Clay County, MN. At the age of 5, Robert’s mother died, leaving his father with 9 children to raise. With the help of neighbors, friends and Grandma and Grandpa Nelson, the children all grew up to be a family to be proud of.
Robert attended school at Woodland School District 3 for eight years. He was a lifetime member of Rollag Lutheran Church, where he was baptized, confirmed and married by the late Rev. S. G. Hauge.
Robert worked on the farm with his dad and brothers. In 1945, he entered the U.S. Army. After completing his basic training, he was stationed in the Aleutian Islands where he was a mail clerk for his company. He was honorably discharged in 1947 and returned to his home in Rollag. On December 12, 1948, he was united in marriage to Ardis Anderson. They lived a short time with his father and in 1951 they purchased the I.M. Thun farm, east of Rollag, where they have resided for the past 57 years. Robert farmed the same land his father and Uncle Martin had farmed before him. He raised shorthorn cattle for many years and took great pride that his cattle blood line had been in his family since the days of his grandpa, H.C. Nelson. His cattle are now cared for by his family members. In addition to his farming, Robert also worked at American Crystal Sugar for thirty years.
Robert was a life member of the Hawley VFW Post #1696, where he served as commander for many years. He also served many years on the Hawley Elevator Board, the Land O Lakes Dairy Assn. Board and the Rollag Church Council as a trustee and on the cemetery committee. He was a member of the Woodland School Reunion Committee where he very much enjoyed planning and organizing the yearly reunions. Robert was an officer of the Rollag Senior Citizens, and a lifetime and past board member of the Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion.
Robert had many loves in his life. His faith and his family always came first. He was very proud of his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He loved his “red” tractors and his cattle. He was very proud of his Norwegian heritage and spent many hours learning about his ancestry. Robert was very honored to be an attendee on the 1st World War II Honor Flight in May of 2007. He was accompanied by his son, Rich-ard, who is a Vietnam Veteran.
Robert will be welcomed into his heavenly home by his parents, Carl and Mabel, his siblings, Mildred and her husband, Axel Flaten, Raymond, James and Carl, an infant sister, Lor-raine and his brother-in-law, Maurice Henry.
Robert is survived by his wife, Ardis, and their eleven children; Richard of rural Barnesville, Ronald (Faye) of rural Rollag, Roger (Debbie) of rural Rollag, Gary (Virginia) of Alexandria, Minnesota, Ellis (Deb) of rural Rollag, Linda (Ron) Ekre of rural Hawley, Lois (Joe) Pederson of Hawley, Barbara (Jeff) Grunewald of rural Pelican Rapids, Julie (Keith) Hansen of rural Rollag, Patricia (Gary) Jensen of rural Rollag and Carla (Paul) Wendt of rural Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, Twenty-eight grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brothers, Herbert (Clarice) of rural Hawley, and Laurence (Florence) of Hawley; his sisters, Charlotte Henry of Hawley and Anna (Ted) Herbranson of rural Rollag and his sisters-in-law, Norma Aaker of Moorhead, Lorraine Aakre of Hawley, and Agnes Aakre of Barnesville.
Funeral services: Saturday, December 22nd at 11:00 in Rollag Lutheran Church, Rollag.
Visitation: Friday, December 21st from 5:00 – 8:00 with a prayer service at 7:00 in Rollag Lutheran Church and two hours before the service on Saturday.
Copied from the Fargo Forum.
Robert Garfield Aakre
Robert Garfield Aakre, age 81, died December 18, 2007 at his home in Rollag, Minnesota. He was surrounded by his children, and his loving wife of 59 years, Ardis. He had been under the care of Hospice of the Red River Valley.
Robert, the son of Carl A. and Mabel J. (Nelson) Aaker was born on February 9, 1926 on his parents’ farm in Parke Township, Clay County, MN. At the age of 5, Robert’s mother died, leaving his father with 9 children to raise. With the help of neighbors, friends and Grandma and Grandpa Nelson, the children all grew up to be a family to be proud of.
Robert attended school at Woodland School District 3 for eight years. He was a lifetime member of Rollag Lutheran Church, where he was baptized, confirmed and married by the late Rev. S. G. Hauge.
Robert worked on the farm with his dad and brothers. In 1945, he entered the U.S. Army. After completing his basic training, he was stationed in the Aleutian Islands where he was a mail clerk for his company. He was honorably discharged in 1947 and returned to his home in Rollag. On December 12, 1948, he was united in marriage to Ardis Anderson. They lived a short time with his father and in 1951 they purchased the I.M. Thun farm, east of Rollag, where they have resided for the past 57 years. Robert farmed the same land his father and Uncle Martin had farmed before him. He raised shorthorn cattle for many years and took great pride that his cattle blood line had been in his family since the days of his grandpa, H.C. Nelson. His cattle are now cared for by his family members. In addition to his farming, Robert also worked at American Crystal Sugar for thirty years.
Robert was a life member of the Hawley VFW Post #1696, where he served as commander for many years. He also served many years on the Hawley Elevator Board, the Land O Lakes Dairy Assn. Board and the Rollag Church Council as a trustee and on the cemetery committee. He was a member of the Woodland School Reunion Committee where he very much enjoyed planning and organizing the yearly reunions. Robert was an officer of the Rollag Senior Citizens, and a lifetime and past board member of the Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion.
Robert had many loves in his life. His faith and his family always came first. He was very proud of his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He loved his “red” tractors and his cattle. He was very proud of his Norwegian heritage and spent many hours learning about his ancestry. Robert was very honored to be an attendee on the 1st World War II Honor Flight in May of 2007. He was accompanied by his son, Rich-ard, who is a Vietnam Veteran.
Robert will be welcomed into his heavenly home by his parents, Carl and Mabel, his siblings, Mildred and her husband, Axel Flaten, Raymond, James and Carl, an infant sister, Lor-raine and his brother-in-law, Maurice Henry.
Robert is survived by his wife, Ardis, and their eleven children; Richard of rural Barnesville, Ronald (Faye) of rural Rollag, Roger (Debbie) of rural Rollag, Gary (Virginia) of Alexandria, Minnesota, Ellis (Deb) of rural Rollag, Linda (Ron) Ekre of rural Hawley, Lois (Joe) Pederson of Hawley, Barbara (Jeff) Grunewald of rural Pelican Rapids, Julie (Keith) Hansen of rural Rollag, Patricia (Gary) Jensen of rural Rollag and Carla (Paul) Wendt of rural Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, Twenty-eight grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brothers, Herbert (Clarice) of rural Hawley, and Laurence (Florence) of Hawley; his sisters, Charlotte Henry of Hawley and Anna (Ted) Herbranson of rural Rollag and his sisters-in-law, Norma Aaker of Moorhead, Lorraine Aakre of Hawley, and Agnes Aakre of Barnesville.
Funeral services: Saturday, December 22nd at 11:00 in Rollag Lutheran Church, Rollag.
Visitation: Friday, December 21st from 5:00 – 8:00 with a prayer service at 7:00 in Rollag Lutheran Church and two hours before the service on Saturday.
Copied from the Fargo Forum.