David Ahlquist

Dave Ahlquist, 84, of Spicer, passed away Friday, October 4 at St. Cloud VA Hospital due to complications of Parkinson's Disease. He was diagnosed in January 2010 with Parkinson's and fought stubbornly to maintain his independence. His funeral service will be 11:00 am, Saturday, October 19 at Our Lady of The Lakes Catholic Church in Spicer. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be at Oakhill Cemetery in New Lodnon. Arrangements are with Harvey Anderson & Johnson Funeral Homes in New London. www.hafh.org
David Ernest Ahlquist was born on January 28, 1940, in Minneapolis to Alvin and Bernice (Lorenz) Ahlquist. He spent his childhood in Willmar, where he attended school and graduated from Willmar High School with the Class of 1958. As a senior in high school, he enlisted in the United States Navy on June 7, 1957, and was stationed in Minneapolis; Norman, Oklahoma; Pensacola, Florida; and Lakehurst, New Jersey. He attended photographer's school in Pensacola, Florida. Later while stationed at Lakehurst, New Jersey he worked with the blimps and also was a firefighter. He was Honorably Discharged on June 6, 1963, as an E-4, and also having received the Good Conduct Medal. Following his discharge, Dave served in the U S Naval Reserve.
He returned to Willmar where he attended Willmar Community College and became employed at the West Central Tribune as a photographer. He worked at Willmar State Hospital as a psychiatric technician from 1962 until 1966 when he began employment with the Great Northern Railway which later became Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad. He retired in 2002.
In 1970 he married Beverly Swenson Jenson in South Dakota. To this union they had two daughters: Christine and Alana. They divorced in 1988. After nine years of dating, he married Teryl (Terry) Larson Erickson in Reno, Nevada on July 8, 1998. Dave and Terry resided in New London after their marriage until they built a home on West Woodcock Lake in Spicer in 2001. In 2009, they began to spend the winter months in Apache Junction, AZ, where they enjoyed their home and the activities at Golden Vista.
Dave was active in the community being on the Kandiyohi County Planning and Zoning Commission; nine years on the New London-Spicer School Board; ten years on the New London Township Board; served on the Region 6E Environmental Education Board, which was a forerunner of the Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center; active member of New London Legion, as well as being on their honor squad. In retirement, he was a hall angel at Lady of the Lakes Catholic Church, volunteered at Rice Hospital and delivered Meals on Wheels.
Dave enjoyed duck and pheasant hunting, in his younger years, as well as all sports, playing cards, especially Buck, shooting pool, watching Western movies, especially John Wayne, and traveling to all 50 states as well as numerous countries. He was a person who was up front with his opinions and loved nothing better than a good argument. Terry called him a "crusty marshmallow."
To mourn his memory is his wife, Terry, of Spicer; his daughters: Christine Thompson of Kerkhoven and her daughters, Abby and Elizabeth, and Alana (Michelle) Ahlquist of Willmar; Terry's children: Dana Erickson of St. Augusta, and her sons: Devan, Noah, Isaiah, Taylor (Traci) and their children, Thomas, Tristan and Tori; Shannon Larson of Excelsior and her children Allison and Elijah; Nicholas (Carrie) Erickson of Spicer and children: Makenzie, Rayah and Hayes. He is further survived by his bonus daughters: Lori Evans, Renee (Dan) Lindblad, Debra Jenson; brother, Dan Ahlquist and sister, Diane Ahlquist; nephew, Jeff (Lynn) Ahlquist; niece, Kim (David) Forsythe.
Dave was preceded in death by his parents; son-in-law, Lance Thompson and granddaughter, Eden Thompson. He was further preceded in death by, Terry's parents, Juleen and Delores Larson; Terry's brother, Allen Larson (Rita).
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