Alan D. Espelien

Alan Dean Espelien, M.D., of St. Cloud, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on September 1, 2025. A celebration of life reception will be held at 5:00 pm on Friday, October 17 at the Holiday Inn & Suites, St. Cloud. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, October 18, 2025 at First Presbyterian Church, St. Cloud, with visitation one hour before. Arrangements have been entrusted to Williams Dingmann Funeral Home, St. Cloud.
Alan was born March 10, 1932, in Cushing, Wisconsin to Eleanor Marie (Olson) and Alano O. Espelien. He graduated from Frederic High School in 1950. After beginning his studies at the University of Wisconsin–River Falls, he transferred to Bethel College, where in biology class he met his future wife, Adella Bennett. They married in Windom, Minnesota on July 21, 1956. Alan completed his bachelor's degree at the University of Minnesota in 1957 and went on to earn his medical degree there in 1961. Following residency training in anesthesiology at the University of Minnesota Hospitals, Alan and Adella moved to St. Cloud. In the fall of 1966 Alan joined Drs. Wes Smith and Joe Belshe as the third member of Anesthesia Associates. He practiced medicine in St. Cloud for 34 years, going part-time in 1995 and retiring for good in 2000. Alan and Adella joined First Presbyterian Church of St. Cloud in 1968 and remained lifelong members.
In 1969 Alan found a lot on the south end of Big Fish Lake and built the summer house where the family has enjoyed 56 summers together with their children and grandchildren. Alan loved the lake and enjoyed boating, fishing, swimming sidestroke and waterskiing, all of these somehow without ever getting his hair wet. Alan also loved snow skiing at Powder Ridge, Indianhead and Colorado. In retirement, Alan began a second "career" teaching skiing at Wild Mountain in Taylor Falls, Minnesota. Throughout his life, Alan enjoyed conversations (especially over a good meal) with family and friends, telling stories, asking questions and giving advice. He was also passionate about reading (especially history); travel (especially a long drive with a short cut), and listening to MPR (especially the News from Lake Wobegon on A Prairie Home Companion). He shed real tears when the Minnesota Twins won the World Series in 1987 and 1991. In later years his curious mind discovered YouTube and European soccer, and during COVID he became an avid armchair traveler and opera aficionado.
Alan was preceded in death by his parents and younger brother, Larry Espelien. He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Adella (Bennett) Espelien, and by their children Janine Haugen (Bryan), Jill Espelien, Jay Espelien (Brenda), and Joel Espelien (Ruth Njoroge). He is also survived by nine beloved grandchildren -Kate, Libby (Neal Mallon), Kjersti, Theo, Peter, Trajan, Jan, Andrei, and Rickie.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorials be sent to First Presbyterian Church, St. Cloud or to Minnesota Public Radio.