Larry Gafkjen

Larry K. Gafkjen, age 73, of Alamo, North Dakota, formerly of the Benson area, died Wednesday, May 11 at his home in Alamo.

A time of gathering and sharing will be held from 3-7 PM, Monday May 23, at the Peterson Brothers Sunburg Funeral Home in Sunburg, Minnesota. In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred. The interment will be at a later date in Calvary Cemetery in Murdock, Minnesota. (www.petersonbrothers.com)

Larry Kermit Gafkjen was born on November 5, 1942 in Arctander Township, Kandiyohi County, Minnesota, the son of Rudolph and Alice (Reigstad) Gafkjen. He grew up in that area and was baptized and confirmed at the West Lake Lutheran Church. Larry graduated from Edison High School in Minneapolis. He joined the US Air Force in 1960 and served in Arizona as a civil engineer Airman Second Class. After his discharge in 1963, he returned to the area and graduated from Hutchinson Technical College with a degree in NDS testing. On June 10, 1967, he was married to Barbara Skoglund and they had lived in Murdock, Kerkhoven, Hutchinson and Benson areas. Barbara died on September 11, 1998 and in about 2001 Larry moved to North Dakota.

He is survived by 1 daughter, Dawn Gafkjen of Granite Falls and special friend Mike Lyndblom of Maynard, 1 step-daughter, Kathy Kruse of St. Paul, 4 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren and special friend Carol Gress of Alamo, North Dakota. Also surviving is 1 brother, Vendale Gafkjen of Sandstone and 1 sister, Sharon (and Ronald) Monson of Murdock.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents, wife, 2 grandchildren; Nathan Ramsey Sorenson, Cassie Lee Strand, 2 sisters; Aileen Gafkjen in infancy and Linda Gafkjen and 5 brothers; Merle, David, Dean, Roger and Allen Gafkjen.