Obituary of Alvin Tollgaard

Alvin Tollgaard, 69, Floodwood, died Friday, January 24, 2003 in St. Luke's Hospice, Duluth, after a long illness. He was born September 24, 1933 in Flandreau, South Dakota to Frank and Evelyn May (Johnston) Tollgaard. Alvin was a 1951 graduate of Floodwood High School. He married Elsie Mattila on July 20, 1954 in Carlton. Alvin was an Army veteran and served in Japan. Alvin and his brother, Jim, were partners in a dairy farmer for 43 years and they received the St. Louis County Farmer of the Year Award and the Soil Conservation Farmer of the Year Award. He worked as a smoke chaser for the DNR for a number of years. After his retirement, he and Elsie were the custodians at the Floodwood Rest Area. He was a member of Hope Lutheran Church and served on the church council, served on the Floodwood school board, the ASCS board for many years; was a long-time member of the Production Credit Association Board and a member of the Floodwood Senior Citizens. Alvin loved hunting, but his greatest joy was spending time with his family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Frances Moline and Helen Hutchinson and a brother, John Tollgaard. Alvin is survived by his wife, Elsie, of Floodwood; three sons, Jerry (Rose) of Swan River, Mark (Tina) of Kettle River and Tim of Floodwood; two brothers, Clifford (Dorothy) Tollgaard of Grand Rapids and James (Elvi) Tollgaard of Floodwood; 9 grandchildren, Nicole (Wade) Phillips, Ryan Tollgaard, Jamie and Kristi Johnson, Danielle, Tabi and Ross Tollgaard, Jake and Chad Katzenberger; one great granddaughter, Samantha Rose Katzenberger; special friends, Roy and Grace Autio of Floodwood; a special niece, Betty Juola of Hazen, Ark and numerous nieces and nephews. Memorial services were held on Monday, January 27, 2003 in Hope Lutheran Church, Floodwood. Arrangements entrusted to Northland Funeral Home, 801 14th Street, Cloquet.