Born: 3 Sep 1912, Keene, North Dakota
Married:
Died: 21 Aug 1994, Douglas Co, MN
Buried: Trysil-Bethesda cemetery, Holmes City twp, MN
Spouse:
Newspaper Historical Society Article: Echo Press, Alexandria, MN
His Memory Will Continue To Inspire
By Minnie Osterholt
At 10:15 on Sunday evening, August 21, 1994, the door closed gently on
the life of Erling Nicolai Rolfsrud.
Death was not unexpected nor unwelcome.
Erling’s obituary will tell the facts of his life. It may not tell
that this teacher-writer has influenced hundreds of lives. Nor will it
tell of the many people whose spirits have been uplifted by the music
his fingers have coaxed from the keys of church organs in Minnesota and
the Dakotas. Rolfsrud has touched many lives for good. He has many
friends.
On many occasions the Historical Society called on Rolfsrud to
volunteer his services and expertise. He was a judge in the school
biography contest. He presented a delightful program, “Church Birds” at
an annual meeting. When he did research in files and old newspapers,
the Historical Society profited from it also.
On several occasions Rolfsrud sat in Knute Nelson’s dining room and
autographed his recent books. Petticoat Pioneer, issued in 1993, was
his 31st book. A few of his earlier books have been reissued, bringing
the total presently in print and available to 12. Rolfsrud’s books, as
well as the aftereffects of his teaching, will continue his influence
among residents in this area for many years.
One of the things teacher Rolfsrud taught is that a writer should use
words with economy. I will try.
Dear friend, your memory will continue to inspire us. We will miss
your so appreciated special visits. Thanks for the joy and hugs we
shared with you.
Bon vogage…
The son of immigrant homesteaders, Rolfrud was born September 2, 1912
on a farm near Keene, North Dakota. He graduated from Watford City High
School in 1930. After attending a summer term at Minot State Teachers
College, he taught three terms of rural school in McKenzie County. He
sold his first children’s story while teaching at Rocky Glen School. He
graduated from Concordia College, Moorhead in 1936. Other studies were
pursued at Concordia Conservatory of Music, Fargo: and Fargo Business
College, the State College of Education, Greeley, Colorado; and St Cloud
State College, St Cloud. He taught in secondary schools, then headed
the department of business education at Concordia for five years. After
18 years of teaching English at Alexandria, he retired in 1978 to devote
full time to writing. He lived with his wife on Lake Rachel near
Farwell.
For two years he was associate editor of “The North Dakota Teacher.”
He wrote his column, “The Top Drawer,” for that publication for 22
years. Church, home, farm and education journals and magazines have
published his stories and articles. He did freelance writing for 11
years, qualifying for membership in the Authors’ League of America in
1952. During the 1952-53 school years, he was a lyceum lecturer in the
North Dakota schools. He has spoken to varied audiences: high school
commencements, church and community groups, education conventions and workshops and historical societies.
He had been a church organist for over 40 years, most of them at First
Lutheran Church in Alexandria. The Concordia College Board of Regents
chose him to write a history of the college which was published in 1966
as “Cobber Chronicle.” In 1966 the North Central Council for School
Television hired him to write and teach the Red River Land series which
was broadcast for 9 years over station KFME, Fargo and won the Ohio
State Award in 1969.
Rolfsrud was recipient of the Red River Valley Historical Society’s
Pioneer Historian Award and of the Concordia College Alumni Achievement Award in 1974. He was inducted into the Scandinavian American Hall of Fame in 1989. In 1991 the Red River Valley Heritage Society presented him with their Lake Agassiz Publication Award. He has written 31 books and was working on another at the time of his death.
Funeral services were held on Friday, August 26, 1994 at First
Lutheran Church in Alexandria with Reverend Ron Otterson and Reverend Russ Osterberg officiating. Music was provided by Randy Morken, organist; Dan Olson, soloist and Judi Dahlseng, harpist.
Interment was in the Trysil-Bethesda Cemetery in rural Farwell with
DeWayne Bisek, Al Skaar, Neal Zappe, Ray Beilke, Randy Pahl and Murrae Freng serving as pallbearers. All those who loved Erling were named honorary pallbearers.
Arrangements were with the Anderson Funeral Home.