Gerald Soderlund, 90, of Stephen, MN passed away on Friday, October 22, 2021, at Lilac Homes Memory Care in Dilworth, MN.
Gerald was born on April 23, 1931, to Clarence and Alice (Carlstrom) Soderlund in Stephen, MN. After graduating from Stephen High School in 1949, he studied agriculture at NDSU while farming with his dad. He was drafted into the US Army in 1956 and served two years in the Army Medical Corp at Brook Army Medical Center in San Antonio, TX. While enlisted, he met and married Lou Steele of Bellaire, OH in 1957. Upon their discharge in 1958, they moved to the family farm in Stephen, where Gerald took over the farming. Gerald and Lou enjoyed farm life, where they raised their three children, Geri, Mark, and Alicia. They grew wheat, barley, sunflowers, and sugar beets.
Gerald was also active in his community as a member of First Lutheran Church, the Stephen Golf Club, Lions Club, Masons, and Shriners. He served on the School Board for two terms, as Scoutmaster for the Cub Scouts, and was one of the founding members of the Stephen Curling Club. He loved to take his family curling, camping, boating, fishing, snowmobiling, and ice fishing. His many hobbies included photography, coin collecting, stained glass art, woodworking, vegetable, and flower gardening. He had a great sense of humor and loved to laugh and spend time with his family and friends.
Gerald’s wife Lou passed away in 1979. Gerald married Shirley Johnson of Mentor, MN in 1975. Shirley and Gerald shared a love of gardening, and both enrolled at the University of MN at Crookston, graduating with Horticulture degrees in 1985. While farming and attending college, they opened “Suddy’s Greenhouse,” which operated until they sold the family farm in 1986.
They moved to Detroit Lakes and worked together at a commercial nursery. In 1989, they moved to Cottage Grove, MN where they both worked for Bailey’s Nursery until Gerald’s retirement in 2001. Moving back to Stephen, they enjoyed their retirement years. Gerald frequently visited the farm, grew vegetables to donate to hospitals and nursing homes, assisted the Stephen Garden Club with their city flower beds, and volunteered in maintaining the cemetery.
Gerald and Shirley left Stephen to move into Fair Meadow Nursing Home in Fertile in May of 2020. In September 2020, Gerald moved to Lilac Homes Memory Care in Dilworth, MN.
Gerald is survived by his wife, Shirley; his children, Geri (Mark) Fortney of Estero, FL (Beth, Sarah, Dana), Mark (Barbara) of Lakeville, MN (Paul, Elaine, Amanda, Carl), and Alicia (Wayne) Schultz of Red Lake Falls, MN (Melissa, Nicole); 12 great-grandchildren; sisters, Joyce Nelson of Stephen, MN, and Elaine (Vern) Swenson of Bloomington, MN; sister-in-law, Janet Carlson of Minneapolis, MN; brother-in-law, Richard Johnson of Mentor, MN; and several nieces and nephews.
Gerald was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Lou Soderlund; sister, Esther (Eames); brothers-in-law, Michael Eames and Don Nelson; and mother and father-in-law, Ted and Alice Johnson.
Special thanks to Red River Valley Hospice and Lilac Homes Memory Care.
Memorials can be sent to the Stephen Volunteer Ambulance Service or the Stephen Curling Club.
Funeral: 11:00 AM, Friday, October 29, 2021, at Erikson-Vik-Ganje Funeral Home, Fertile, MN. Due to COVID 19 concerns please wear a mask when attending the visitation and funeral.
Visitation: One hour before the funeral at the funeral home.
Interment: 3:00 PM, Friday, October 29, 2021, at Stephen Cemetery, Stephen, MN.
Please view our guestbook and share condolences online at www.eriksonvikfh.com
Arrangements with Erikson-Vik-Ganje Funeral Home
Fertile, Minnesota
