Kenneth Wold

Kenneth Wold, age 94, of Fosston, MN, passed away on Wednesday, September 24th, at the VA Medical Center in Fargo, ND. A Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 4th, at Calvary Free Lutheran Church in Fosston with the Rev. Mark Richardson officiating. Interment will be in Calvary Free Lutheran Cemetery, Fosston. Visitation will be held for one hour prior to the service on Saturday (October 4th) at the church. Military honors will be provided by the Army National Guard Honors Team. Arrangements are with Carlin Family Funeral Service of Fosston and messages of condolence may be shared at www.carlinfuneral.com.

Kenneth LeRoy Wold was born August 23,1931, on the family farm near Trail, MN, to Selmer and Selma (Jacobson) Wold. He was the fifth of five children. He remembered growing up in a Christian home, and one of his earliest memories was sitting by the wood stove in the kitchen where his parents would have daily devotions. Church was very important to his family. They attended rural Zion Lutheran Church.

Ken attended school at District 242 near the family home. Then he helped his dad on the farm until he enlisted in the army in March of 1952. He spent two years at Fort Knox, Kentucky, as a tank driving instructor. He continued in the Army Reserve from 1954 to 1960.

In July of 1954, he married the love of his life, Arlene Volden, at Hope Lutheran Church, Fosston. They made their home in rural Trail, MN, where they raised three children: Nancy, Tammy, and Lorie. Ken farmed for a few years, then worked at the Gully Elevator for five years. After that, he worked another 28 years as the manager of the Gully Co-op Lumber & Supply.

They moved to Fosston in 1992. He retired from the Gully Lumber Yard in August 1996. Three weeks later, he was asked to work part-time at Ace Hardware in Fosston and continued working there for 23 more years. He fully retired in October of 2019 at the age of 88. In his spare time, he enjoyed building portable canvas ice fishing houses of which he sold more than 500 over a span of 20 years.

Ken enjoyed being active. He took pride in keeping a beautiful yard, including a well-kept lawn, garden, and many trees. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, golfing, and spending time with his family. He was also known as a great joke and storyteller. He had a joke for every occasion and could recall them effortlessly. Ken was a self-taught guitar player and enjoyed singing with others including family and friends. He and his siblings would sing whenever they got together and even recorded a CD of family favorites. He and Arlene were also part of the Zion Gospel Singers (a group from Zion Lutheran Church) that sang and played in area churches and the Fertile Fair.

He was also active in the community. He was a school-board member at Gully School and served as a Gideon. He was also a board member of the Erskine Pioneer Memorial Care Center and a deacon at Calvary Lutheran Church. He also supported Arlene in numerous ways at her Good News Book and Gift Shoppe in Fosston. He used his woodworking skills in building many beautiful display stands for the store.

His faith and love for Jesus were the most important things in his life. His desire was for everyone to have a personal relationship with the Lord. His second love was his wife, Arlene, followed by his daughters, sons-in-laws, grandchildren and spouses, and great grandchildren. He was known by many to be a kind, gentle, and faithful man, full of integrity.

Kenneth will be missed by his dear wife, Arlene (Volden) Wold, of 71 years and his daughters, Nancy (Jerry) Hibma, Tammy (Rick) Kelley, and Lorie (John) Niessen.

Nine grandchildren: Jared (Angie) Hibma, Adam Hibma, Brittany (Ryan) Esau, Andrew (Quinn) Kelley, Danny (Carolyn) Kelley, Sarah (Jake) Etling, Anna Niessen, Joshua Niessen, and Christina Niessen.

Thirteen Great Grandchildren: Tyson and Simon Hibma; Mady Tyrell-Esau; Scarlett, Juliet, Marigold, and Elaine Kelley; Danny Jr., Benjy, Samuel, and Georgia Kelley; and Jeremiah and Silas Etling.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Selmer and Selma Wold, two brothers, Lloyd and Vernon Wold, two sisters, Esther Sundbom and Myrtle Osmonson, as well as other beloved members of his family.