Alvin Moen

Alvin Howard Moen was born on January 2, 1931 and joined his wife Ophelia on April 29, 2020.  He was 89 years old when he died.  He was born and raised in the Sinai, SD area.  He graduated from high school in Sinai and moved to Sioux Falls and spent a year at Augustana College while working at  G&G Rug and Furniture Company. From there he went to the Naval Station Great Lakes and was assigned to serve on the destroyer USS Erben (DD-631). After his stint in the navy he enrolled in college at South Dakota State University in Brookings, SD.  He graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering and was hired by Hall Engineering in Alexandria, MN.  As an eligible bachelor, he soon caught the eye of a local English teacher, Ophelia Lack, who tried to get him to date one of her friends.  This ploy backfired, but resulted in the two of them dating and ultimately getting married in 1959.  They purchased a home on Lake LeHomme Dieu and lived there up until their deaths.  Hall Engineering was purchased by Widseth, Smith, Nolting and Al became a partner with them.  He also served as City Engineer for Alexandria and other smaller towns in the area.  He retired after a successful career and traveled to Norway, Florida, Arizona and especially to Texas where he and Ophelia would spend their winters in Weatherford, TX with Ophelia's sister. The two of them also enjoyed golfing, playing bridge with friends and were part of a very special tennis/gourmet dinner group that they so enjoyed being involved with.  Al was also known as an excellent angler in his younger years and was also pretty darn handy with tools and could fix almost anything. Al loved his garden plants, looking at visiting birds and enjoyed feeding and watching the flying squirrels that visited his custom made feeder for over 30 years.  He took great pride in whatever work he did and had exacting standards for accuracy and things had to be just right before he would sign off with his approval.  Alvin was the last surviving member of his family and was preceded in death by his mother, Bertha Sunde, his father, Lars Moen, his step-father, Andrew Sunde, his brothers Leonard Moen, Ray Moen, Merle Moen, Kenneth Moen and his step-siblings Milton Sunde, Kenneth Sunde and Vina Mae Larson.  He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Ophelia, whom Al cared for lovingly to the day she died.  We are comforted that they are once again together.  Al is survived by his son, Greg Moen (Kristin), Portage, Wisconsin and Renee Salmon, St. Charles, Missouri, grandsons Dylan Kress, Dustin Kress, Ryan Salmon and granddaughter, Annika Moen.  We would like to thank all the special friends in the "prayer chain", the people in their great neighborhood, the staff and volunteers of First Lutheran Church, Al's nephew Kennon and his wife Jane who regularly visited Al and brought him meals and had great visits while they were there and everyone who has offered their prayers, kind words and condolences to our family in this time. Funeral services will be held at a date to be announced.