Obituary of Archibald Newton Bolstad

Archibald Newton Bolstad PhD., "Archie or A.N.", 86 of Afton, MN and Petersburg, Alaska, died unexpectedly Thursday, April 10, 2003 at the Floodwood home of his son, David, where he was visiting. He was born June 4, 1916, the first child of Olai Rudolph and Anna Christine (Dronen) Bolstad. He married Irene Tveit on June 28, 1945 in Floodwood. Archie began his flight training for the Navy in 1941 and was a Navy pilot during WWII in the Pacific Theater. Archie earned a bachelor's degree in Chemistry from St. Olaf College in 1938, a master's degree in chemistry from North Dakota Agricultural College in 1946 and his PhD in chemistry from the University of Wisconsin in 1949. He established the "Archie Bolstad Endowment for Chemistry" at St. Olaf College that provides an annual scholarship. He was a research chemist for 3M Company where he developed "Scotch Guard" and improved the non-stick backing on Scotch tape. Archie retired in 1978 after 29 years of service. He had a dozen patents in his name. Archie continued his passion for chemistry and research after retirement spending several summers at St. Olaf College seeking to improve engine combustion, consulting for 3M Company at their plant in Valencia, Venezuela, and experimenting with a home-made vortex generator to seed clouds and create rain while wintering in Australia. Archie was a man of many talents, including hunting, fishing, chemistry, beekeeping, traveling, playing Pinochle and planning many pranks, some with a chemical twist and bang. He loved traveling around the country to visit his children and help them in their projects. Archie was a devout man active in worship and daily scripture reading and prayer. While in Australia, he drove 140 miles round-trip to go to church. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Luther (Esther) Bolstad; a sister, Eileen Bolstad and an infant granddaughter, Hope Arco. Archie is survived by a son, David (Ann) of Floodwood; eight daughters, Janelle (Alan) Marley of Centerville, PA, Dawn (Marion) Shafer and Marlys Grace, both of Floodwood, Nova (John) Burke of Spokane, WA, Faith (Patrick) Hopkins of Spartansburg, PA, Arlana (Doug) Corl of Petersburg, AK, Laurie (Sean) Arco of Afton, MN and Joy (Dennis) Greene of Kirtland, OH; the mother of his nine children, Irene Bolstad of Floodwood; a sister, Dorothy (Don) Olsen of Rye, Colorado; 47 grandchildren; 4 great grandchildren, 3 nephews, Kip, Steve and Richard and 2 nieces, Roxie and Terri. Funeral services were held on Monday, April 14, 2002 in Hope Lutheran Church, Floodwood. Spring burial will be in Hope Lutheran Cemetery, Floodwood. Arrangements entrusted to Northland Funeral Home, 801 14th Street, Cloquet.