1919
Walter
2015
Walter Spidahl
August 31, 1919 — March 7, 2015
Walter B. Spidahl, 95, died Saturday evening, March 7th, 2015 at the Minnesota Veterans' Home, Fergus Falls. His son, David, and Arla, a wonderful care provider, were by his side. He lived a full and interesting life.
Walter was born August 31, 1919 to Julius and Inga (Stras) Spidahl. He was raised in Norwegian Grove Township. Walter was baptized and confirmed at North Immanuel Lutheran Church. He started skiing at age six when his father made him a pair of skis out of oak boards that had been part of a manger in the barn. He attended country school District 201. Both his parents died while he was still in school. As a boy in 4H Walter won a trip to the State Fair for baking bread. He also was proud to have shown a hog at the State Fair. He won a trip to New York City by selling the most subscriptions to the Minneapolis Star newspaper. He was an entrepreneur from an early age. After graduating from Pelican Rapids High School in 1938 he went to Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota and then enlisted in the National Guard during his second year. His guard unit was sent to Kodiak, Alaska. He served as a cook and then had the opportunity to become a ski instructor, which helped set the course for the rest of his life.
After the war he studied mortuary science at the University of Minnesota. He continued his love of skiing, making good friends with several students from Norway in the Gopher Ski Club. He met Marie Elizabeth Johnson on a blind date. They were married on October 24, 1948 at Christina Lake Lutheran Church. They made their home in Fergus Falls and found a lively and supportive faith community at Augustana Lutheran Church. They began raising a family and devoted much energy to promoting skiing in the area.
Walter had met Melvin "Muggs" Townsend in Pelican when he started working at Muggs' Ice Cream Shop. As Muggs' concession business grew, Walter became a part of it. In the summer he was on the road and in the winter he promoted skiing and started a little ski shop. Muggs and his friends got Walter interested in hunting and he taught them to ski. A great opportunity opened for Walter when he met C.A. Lund and was offered a job as a salesman for Northland Ski Company. His brother, Jim, took over operation of the Ski Shop, freeing Walter to travel. He was on the road a lot after that, covering a territory that included Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Northern Illinois. During this time he and some friends in the Fergus Ski Club came to an agreement with two Norwegian bachelor farmers and opened "Hallaway Hill" east of Pelican Rapids, in what is now Maplewood State Park.
In 1954 Liz contracted polio and was in a wheelchair for the rest of her life. Walter was a devoted care giver for the next fifty years. Together, they travelled in the U.S. and Norway and Europe. Incredibly imaginative and resourceful, he was always looking for ways to make life better for Liz. One of his proudest accomplishments was helping to design an accessible home.
As the ski business grew and changed, Walter served as sales manager in St. Paul for three years. Then he took a job in Tacoma, Washington as sales manager and then Vice President for Krystal Skis, a company that imported skis from Europe and Japan. He enjoyed the opportunity for travel but missed his home. Shortly after returning from the West Coast, he and Liz bought a farm house and property in Friberg Township which he soon turned into the Ski Gaard, a cross-country ski area with many miles of trails, now operated by son David and his wife, Cindy. Walt spent quite a few following summers on the road, selling foot longs and Speedy's Pretty Good Caramel Apples with Townsend Concessions. A highlight for him every year was working the Minnesota State Fair, which he did through his eighty-ninth birthday. He became a well-known fixture at the corner of Barnes and Nelson in the foot long stand by the conservation building. Doug and Nancy (Townsend) Hansen deserve our thanks for encouraging Dad to do something he loved. Thanks to Kim and Christy and nephew, Rod, he even was able to celebrate his ninety-fifth birthday at the State Fair.
Walter is survived by his children: John (Naomi) Stennes-Spidahl, Cashton, WI; Christine (Kim) Parsons, Dent, MN; David (Cindy) Spidahl, Fergus Falls; Oscar Spidahl, Seattle, WA; and Mary (Randy) Kelley, Steamboat Springs, CO. He is further survived by grandchildren: Nadia (Danny Gillitzer) Stennes-Spidahl, Cedar Rapids, IA; Hans Stennes-Spidahl, Madison, WI; Anna (Mike) Lamb, Pasadena, CA; Tyler (Lindsey Frischmann) Parsons, San Antonio, TX; Erica Parsons, St. Paul, MN; Ben (Anne Marie Wirth-Cauchon) Spidahl, Minneapolis, MN; Liv Anderson, Fergus Falls; Berit (Daniel) Olson, Fergus Falls; Anders Spidahl, Fergus Falls; Isabel Renville and Cosmo Spidahl, Seattle, WA; Ryan Kelley and David Kelley, Steamboat Springs, CO. He was blessed with seven great-grandchildren: Julian Kenyon-Spidahl, Jaden and Maria Anderson, Rhea and Evelyn Lamb, Adeleida Spidahl, and Del Olson. He is further survived by nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Elizabeth; brothers William, John, and James (Ruth); sisters Irene (Joe) Follingstad, Ruth (James) Dixon, and Helen (Glen) Jensen; and numerous other relatives and great friends.
The family is truly grateful for the excellent and compassionate care Walt received at the VA Home. The respect shown to each resident is noteworthy and admirable.
Memorials are preferred to Otter Tail Nordic Ski Association, a nonprofit supporting youth and high school Nordic skiing in the Fergus area.
Walter was born August 31, 1919 to Julius and Inga (Stras) Spidahl. He was raised in Norwegian Grove Township. Walter was baptized and confirmed at North Immanuel Lutheran Church. He started skiing at age six when his father made him a pair of skis out of oak boards that had been part of a manger in the barn. He attended country school District 201. Both his parents died while he was still in school. As a boy in 4H Walter won a trip to the State Fair for baking bread. He also was proud to have shown a hog at the State Fair. He won a trip to New York City by selling the most subscriptions to the Minneapolis Star newspaper. He was an entrepreneur from an early age. After graduating from Pelican Rapids High School in 1938 he went to Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota and then enlisted in the National Guard during his second year. His guard unit was sent to Kodiak, Alaska. He served as a cook and then had the opportunity to become a ski instructor, which helped set the course for the rest of his life.
After the war he studied mortuary science at the University of Minnesota. He continued his love of skiing, making good friends with several students from Norway in the Gopher Ski Club. He met Marie Elizabeth Johnson on a blind date. They were married on October 24, 1948 at Christina Lake Lutheran Church. They made their home in Fergus Falls and found a lively and supportive faith community at Augustana Lutheran Church. They began raising a family and devoted much energy to promoting skiing in the area.
Walter had met Melvin "Muggs" Townsend in Pelican when he started working at Muggs' Ice Cream Shop. As Muggs' concession business grew, Walter became a part of it. In the summer he was on the road and in the winter he promoted skiing and started a little ski shop. Muggs and his friends got Walter interested in hunting and he taught them to ski. A great opportunity opened for Walter when he met C.A. Lund and was offered a job as a salesman for Northland Ski Company. His brother, Jim, took over operation of the Ski Shop, freeing Walter to travel. He was on the road a lot after that, covering a territory that included Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Northern Illinois. During this time he and some friends in the Fergus Ski Club came to an agreement with two Norwegian bachelor farmers and opened "Hallaway Hill" east of Pelican Rapids, in what is now Maplewood State Park.
In 1954 Liz contracted polio and was in a wheelchair for the rest of her life. Walter was a devoted care giver for the next fifty years. Together, they travelled in the U.S. and Norway and Europe. Incredibly imaginative and resourceful, he was always looking for ways to make life better for Liz. One of his proudest accomplishments was helping to design an accessible home.
As the ski business grew and changed, Walter served as sales manager in St. Paul for three years. Then he took a job in Tacoma, Washington as sales manager and then Vice President for Krystal Skis, a company that imported skis from Europe and Japan. He enjoyed the opportunity for travel but missed his home. Shortly after returning from the West Coast, he and Liz bought a farm house and property in Friberg Township which he soon turned into the Ski Gaard, a cross-country ski area with many miles of trails, now operated by son David and his wife, Cindy. Walt spent quite a few following summers on the road, selling foot longs and Speedy's Pretty Good Caramel Apples with Townsend Concessions. A highlight for him every year was working the Minnesota State Fair, which he did through his eighty-ninth birthday. He became a well-known fixture at the corner of Barnes and Nelson in the foot long stand by the conservation building. Doug and Nancy (Townsend) Hansen deserve our thanks for encouraging Dad to do something he loved. Thanks to Kim and Christy and nephew, Rod, he even was able to celebrate his ninety-fifth birthday at the State Fair.
Walter is survived by his children: John (Naomi) Stennes-Spidahl, Cashton, WI; Christine (Kim) Parsons, Dent, MN; David (Cindy) Spidahl, Fergus Falls; Oscar Spidahl, Seattle, WA; and Mary (Randy) Kelley, Steamboat Springs, CO. He is further survived by grandchildren: Nadia (Danny Gillitzer) Stennes-Spidahl, Cedar Rapids, IA; Hans Stennes-Spidahl, Madison, WI; Anna (Mike) Lamb, Pasadena, CA; Tyler (Lindsey Frischmann) Parsons, San Antonio, TX; Erica Parsons, St. Paul, MN; Ben (Anne Marie Wirth-Cauchon) Spidahl, Minneapolis, MN; Liv Anderson, Fergus Falls; Berit (Daniel) Olson, Fergus Falls; Anders Spidahl, Fergus Falls; Isabel Renville and Cosmo Spidahl, Seattle, WA; Ryan Kelley and David Kelley, Steamboat Springs, CO. He was blessed with seven great-grandchildren: Julian Kenyon-Spidahl, Jaden and Maria Anderson, Rhea and Evelyn Lamb, Adeleida Spidahl, and Del Olson. He is further survived by nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Elizabeth; brothers William, John, and James (Ruth); sisters Irene (Joe) Follingstad, Ruth (James) Dixon, and Helen (Glen) Jensen; and numerous other relatives and great friends.
The family is truly grateful for the excellent and compassionate care Walt received at the VA Home. The respect shown to each resident is noteworthy and admirable.
Memorials are preferred to Otter Tail Nordic Ski Association, a nonprofit supporting youth and high school Nordic skiing in the Fergus area.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Walter Spidahl, please visit our flower store.