Earl Algaard

Earl Algaard, age 91, from Fosston, MN passed away on Friday, February 5, 2010 at North Country Regional Hospital in Bemidji, MN. Memorial services will be held on Saturday, February13th at 2:00 PM at Hope Lutheran Church in Fosston with Rev. Paul Magelssen officiating. Visitation will be held on Friday, February 12th from 5:00 to 7:00 PM with a prayer service at 7:00 PM at Carlin-Hoialmen Funeral Home in Fosston. Family and friends may also gather at the church for one hour before the memorial service on Saturday. Interment of cremains will be at Kingo Lutheran Cemetery in Fosston at a later date, and the Carlin-Hoialmen Funeral Home of Fosston is in charge of the arrangements. Sympathy messages may be sent at www.carlinhoialmen.com.Earl Jerome Algaard was born at home on August 11, 1918 in Nielsville, MN to Herlof and Clara (Skalet) Algaard. He moved with his family to Newfolden, MN as a young child. In 1930, they moved to Fosston, MN. In their first years in Fosston, the family operated the Home Café. While they had the café, Earl and his brother Orville spent their summers camping out at Cross Lake, north of Fosston, where they operated a concession stand, which was back in the days when Cross Lake was a popular gathering place for various activities.Earl graduated from Fosston High School in 1936 as valedictorian of his class. He started working at Gambles at age 17 and suggested to his father that they purchase the store, which they did one year later in 1935. Earl and Orville operated the Gambles store along with their father for many years. After their father's death, they continued to run the store until they sold the business in 1980. Earl continued to work, and was proud to serve the community by repairing appliances in Fosston and the surrounding area until the age of 89.Earl served in the U.S. Navy during WWII, returning to Fosston to help run the Gambles store. He was active in the Fosston community serving on the hospital board, school board, and city council. He was also a member of the American Legion.Earl was married to Opal Dunrud on August 31, 1940. Together they had five children. On October 17, 1981 he married Barb Quam. From a young age, Earl appreciated being out in nature. He especially enjoyed hunting, gardening, and wildlife. Earl was always interested in aviation and obtained his pilots license in his early 50's. He had a keen interest in the world around him and was an avid reader of National Geographic Magazine his entire life.On Friday, February 5, 2010 Earl passed away at North Country Regional Hospital in Bemidji, MN at the age of 91 years.He is survived by his wife, Barb of Fosston; three daughters, Beverly (Cecil) Nelson of Monticello, MN, Virginia (Larry) Siverson of Bemidji, and Maxine (Dean) Sorgaard of Fosston; one son, Charles Algaard of Bemidji; daughter-in-law, Darlene Algaard of Moorhead, MN; his wife Barb's children, Beverly (Roger) Drellack of Fertile, MN, Anita (Chuck) Lucken of Fosston, Connie Mark of Kings Mountain, NC, David Quam of Crookston, MN, and Dan (Cindy) Quam of Aberdeen, SD; two sisters, Marilyn Garbe of LaGrange Park, IL, and Eleanor Forseth of Chandler, AZ; and many nieces and nephews. Earl loved little children and was blessed with many grandchildren, great grandchildren, and one great great grandchild.He was preceded in death by his parents; his son, David Algaard; his brother, Orville Algaard; two nephews; and one niece.