Hjalmer Karlstad

Hjalmer L. Karlstad was born May 4, 1922 at Hope, ND, the son of Martin and Marit (Rotvold) Karlstad. Hjalmer grew up on a farm near Mayville, ND and attended school in Lindaas Township. Following his schooling he helped on the family farm. On June 21, 1943 Hjalmer was joined in marriage to Doris Johnson at Trinity Lutheran Church in Moorhead, MN. They made their home on the family farm at Mayville where they were blessed with two children, Harlan and Joanne. In 1962 Hjalmer left the farm and bought a motel in Lisbon, ND. He and Doris operated the Island Park Motel until their retirement in 1982. Hjalmer was a long-time member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Lisbon. He was also a member of the Mayville Eagles Aerie where he served through the offices to become president of the club. Later, his membership was transferred to Lisbon Eagles Aerie. Hjalmer began serving his community at age twenty as a Lindaas Township supervisor; a position he held for twenty years. He also served as a director on the board of the North Dakota Motel Association. For forty years Hjalmer was in charge of Table #1 at the annual Trinity Lutheran Lutefisk Dinner (and he liked eating lutefisk). Hjalmer and Doris enjoyed going dancing whenever they could; often they were the life of the party. Hjalmer also liked to go hunting and fishing. He hunted deer, pheasant, turkey, and geese. Hunting duck was his favorite and earned him the nickname ?Mallard?. Hjalmer loved the outdoors and helped replenish game by raising pheasants. Golfing was a passion that Hjalmer and Doris shared. In season he would try to golf at least nine holes every day. As much as he enjoyed golf he enjoyed time spent visiting and carousing with his golf buddies. Coffee time was also important to Hjalmer; it was time spent sharing news, debating and solving world problems and gambling to see which good coffee buddies would be buying coffee that day. Hjalmer?s Norwegian heritage was something he was proud of. His parents were both born in Norway and emigrated as young adults. Hjalmer grew up speaking Norwegian and in his retirement traveled twice to Norway. He and Doris had opportunity to sail for a day on the Viking ship Hjemkomst on Lake Superior. His first trip to Norway was timed to meet the crew of the famous voyage as they sailed into Oslo. Hjalmer's family was very important to him. He came from a large family and so did Doris. He enjoyed family get-togethers and events. Special to Hjalmer were his five grandchildren; he loved learning about them and spending time with them and they always made Hjalmer laugh. Hjalmer?s two children could not have had a better father and they were devoted to him in return. Hjalmer?s most favorite person to have a laugh with was his wife, Doris. Through good times, hardship or ill health they clung to each others? spirit and made the best of things. Hjalmer and Doris lived for each other. If all of the love and friendship from his sisters & brothers-in-law, brothers & sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, cousins, caregivers and neighbors were totaled it would show Hjalmer to be very rich indeed. He knew this and was grateful for all of the love. On Monday, April 28, 2008 Hjalmer died at the age of eighty-five years. He was preceded in death by his sisters, Marion Fillbrandt, Margaret Aasland and an infant sister; brothers, Edgar (Agnes) Karlstad, Marvin (Alene) Karlstad and Leif Karlstad; and son-in-law, Dan Mairs. Hjalmer is survived by his wife, Doris of Lisbon, ND; children, Harlan (Bonnie Karlstad and Joanne (Robert) Mairs Kensinger, all of Alexandria, MN; grandchildren, Eric (Shelly) Karlstad, Jason Karlstad and Mindee (Jamie) Suchy of Alexandria, Christopher (Lacey) Mairs of Columbia, MD and Nicholas Mairs of Minneapolis, MN; one great grandson, Bjorn Karlstad; sisters, Pearl Swenson of Hillsboro, ND, Edith (Maynard) Strand of Portland, ND and Ellen Ann (Kenny) Bolstad of Valley City, ND; brother Paul (June) Karlstad of Portland; sister-in-law, Ella Mae Karlstad of Mayville; brothers-in-law, Aubrey Fillbrandt of Brainerd, MN and Arnie Aasland of Frazee, MN; and many nieces and nephews. A Funeral service was held Friday, May 2, 2008 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lisbon, ND. Reverend Norm Anderson and Reverend Dave Kileen officiated. Interment followed in the Lisbon Cemetery. Casket bearers were Lyle Sondreal, Marlin Karlstad, Steven Sondreal, Marty Karlstad, Duane Rindy and Wayne Strand.