Alvin Joseph Anderson

Alvin J. Anderson of Devils Lake, died on Saturday, June 14, 2008 at the Heartland Care Center under the care of Hospice at the age of 90 years, 11 months and 22 days. Alvin Joseph Anderson was born in Minnewaukan Township, rural Devils Lake, June 23, 1917 to Peter and Bergitha (Morseth) Anderson who immigrated to North Dakota from Stjordal, Norway. Alvin was baptized by Rev. A.C. Barron, July 13, 1917 and was confirmed by Rev. George O. Loftness, May 24, 1931 in the first confirmation class in Devils Lake’s new St. Olaf Lutheran Church. After his mother died when he was twenty-two months old, he was raised by his father, uncles, cousins and housekeepers. He attended rural school near his home in Minnewaukan Township. Under the guidance of his pioneer father, he learned to farm with horses and threshing machines but moved with the transportation revolution to tractors, combines, trucks and cars. When his father died in 1938, Alvin became the sole owner and operator of the farm where he was able to work and live until moving to Devils Lake in 2001. He loved his farm where “he could hear the birds sing”. During his lifetime on the farm, he raised grain, cattle, horses, chickens, and pigs. Alvin loved to visit with friends and family about farming and the good old days. Alvin and Jennie Hagen were married September 14, 1938 by Rev. E.L. Rude at the St. Olaf Lutheran Parsonage. Jennie died at Devils Lake, August 27, 2001. Alvin was a member of Vernes Church in rural Devils Lake until the church merged with St. Olaf Lutheran Church. He was also a member of Sons of Norway Heim Lodge, Elks, Odd Fellows and Farm Bureau. He served on the Minnewaukan Township Board for thirty-three years, the Minnewaukan Township School Board for twelve years and was a Rural Fire Department Volunteer. He is survived by his daughters, Nadine and her husband, Dale Peterson of Lakota and Alvern and her husband, Jerry Wentzel of Fisher, Minnesota; four grandsons, Darren Peterson, Joel Peterson and his wife, Kristen and their sons, Eric and Liam, Kent Peterson and Mark Peterson all of Grand Forks; two step grandsons, Jeff Peterson and his wife, Kay and their son, Shawn and Greg Peterson; cousins, Olga Wallace, Cando and Gertrude Berntson, Langdon; sister-in-law, Agnes Toso of Devils Lake; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Ingvald and Marianne Hagen of Moorhead, Minnesota; and many nieces, nephews and their families. He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Helena Karoline in 1917; a daughter, Gail Yvonne in 1949; uncles, O.P.A. Borstad, Kjelberg Borstad and Ole Morseth; brothers-in-law, Alf Hagen, Oscar Hagen, Edgar (Elaine) Hagen; sisters-in-law, Selma (Calmer) Kopperud and Ovedia (Alva) Pratt and many cousins. Funeral Services for Alvin will be held at St. Olaf Lutheran Church, Devils Lake on Wedneday, June 18, 2008 at 3:00 p.m. Rev. Rafe Allison will officiate and burial will be in the Devils Lake Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Tuesday from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake. Visitation on Wednesday will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral service. Serving as Casket Bearers for Alvin will be Darren Peterson, Joel Peterson, Kent Peterson, Mark Peterson, Robert Toso, James Toso, Steven Toso, Scott Kelley and Bruce Hagen. Music will be Congregational Hymns with Lynda Pearson as organist.