George Arnold Aalgaard – Obit

George Arnold Aalgaard, age 88, passed away on Sunday, December 11, 2022, at Eventide in Moorhead, MN.

George was born on February 15, 1934, the third of four children born to Ida (Nelson) and Arne Aalgaard at the home of a midwife in Ada, MN. He grew up on the family farm, rural Lockhart, and lived there all his life. He attended Lincoln Country School in Good Hope Township and graduated from Halstad High School in 1952. He was a lifelong member of Bethany Lutheran Church, where he held many leadership positions.

George was drafted into the Army in the mid-1950s and served with the Army National Guard of Minnesota until 1963. He earned his heating and ventilating certification from the Wahpeton State School of Science and used his skills in his rural community, keeping his neighbors warm during cold Minnesota winters. George also attended the Lutheran Bible Institute in Minneapolis, MN during the winters of 1953 and 1954.

George married Jane Siberg on October 3, 1958, at East Marsh River Lutheran Church, rural Halstad, MN. They lived on the family farm for 58 years where they raised their six children. When his health started to fail in 2016, they moved off the family farm and lived for a few years at the Heritage House in Halstad, MN. George and Jane then moved into Eventide Assisted Living Center in June of 2022 where he spent his final days.

George centered his life around faith, family, and farming. He sang in the Inspirations, a community Gospel choir, for over 40 years. He sang solos for church services and special occasions, played guitar, and sang with friends and family. He always had a song running through his head, humming or singing throughout the day, especially while on the tractor. He also had a wonderful speaking voice and used it for narration with the choir, reading in church, and speeches for the Gideons. He was a member of Gideons International for over 40 years.

George loved traveling and spending time with family. He visited the homeland, Norway, with his parents for the first time when he was nine months old, and returned several times throughout the years, including a special trip with his wife, sister, brother and his family in 1983, and again with his granddaughter Holly in 2010. He also took several trips in the USA, including California, Texas, Kentucky, and a very meaningful visit to Graceland. He made nearly annual trips to Medora, ND, which he loved, as well as to Mount Carmel Family Retreat Center, where the extended Aalgaard family could join together in faith and summer fun.

George is preceded in death by his parents; three siblings, Thelma Anderson, Mildred Sanders, and Erling Aalgaard; and his son, Nathan Aalgaard. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Jane (Siberg) Aalgaard; his children, Philip (Sandra) Aalgaard, Nancy (K.C.) Hanson, Mary Aalgaard, James (Dawn) Aalgaard, and Joy Ciaffoni; grandchildren, Holly, Matthew, Andrew, Jordan, Arianna, Robert, Zachary, Charles, Eric, Natalee, and Emily; and five great-grandchildren.

Funeral: 11:00 AM, Wednesday, December 28, 2022, at Bethany Lutheran Church, Rural Shelly, MN, with lunch to follow at the Shelly Community Center, Shelly, MN.

Visitation: 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM, Tuesday, December 27, 2022 at Fredrikson-Ganje Funeral Home, Halstad, MN.

Burial: Bethany Lutheran Cemetery, Rural Shelly, MN.

Please view our guestbook and share condolences online at www.fredriksonfh.com

Arrangements with Fredrikson-Ganje Funeral Homes
Ada & Halstad, Minnesota