FINN HEIMDAHL obituary

Finn Trygve Heimdahl, 91, retired general claims manager for the Burlington Northern Railway, died Thursday, Oct. 23, 2003, at a Havre hospital of natural causes.

Cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday at the Fifth Avenue Christian Church with the Rev. Rowlie Hutton officiating. An additional memorial service will be held

in Willmar, Minn., with private family interment at a later date.

Finn was born on Aug. 29, 1912, to Peter and Clara (Thorson) Heimdahl in Willmar,

Minn. He attended school in Willmar and graduated from Willmar High School. He later attended the Minnesota School of Business graduating with a degree in business. On July 17, 1936, he married Alice Lien at the First Methodist Church in Willmar.

Most of Finn's career was spent with the Great Northern and later the Burlington Northern Railway. He started as a stenographer in Willmar. Later that year the couple moved to Sioux Falls, S.D. Two years later, in 1940, they moved to Minneapolis. In 1943, they moved to Havre, where he worked as a claims agent. In 1952, the family returned to Minneapolis. In 1974 he was promoted to general manager of claims in St. Paul, Minn. In 1998 the couple moved to Havre to be near family.

Finn was known for his great sense of humor, his creative story telling, writing, and his long 8 mile walks well into his 80s. His other hobbies included dancing to big bands, cross-country skiing, golf, hiking, and spending time with his grandchildren. In retirement, Alice and Finn enjoyed many interesting trips together. They traveled to Norway, Bahamas, Hawaii, New Orleans, Great Britain, Winnipeg, California and Arizona.

Finn belonged to the Sons of Norway, Aldersgate United Methodist Church, Railroad Brotherhood Veterans and the AARP.

Finn was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Ralph and Hugo Heimdahl; and sisters Myrtle Nelson, Ona Frans, and Trudy Fladebo.

Survivors include his wife of 67 years, Alice (Lien) Heimdahl of Havre; daughters, Shelley (Gary) Grant of Havre, Annie Heimdahl of South Haven, Minn., Dr. Merry McIntyre, Abiquiu, N.M., Lori Heimdahl (Robert) Gibson of Los Alamos, N.M.; daughter-in-law, Jane Heimdahl of Des Moines, Iowa; sons, David Heimdahl of Fargo, N.D., and Peter Heimdahl of Des Moines, Iowa; brother, Goodwin (Ellamae) Heimdahl of Willmar, Minn.; 13 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to The Brain Injury Association of Minnesota, 43 Main St. SE, Suite 135, Minneapolis, MN 55414; Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 3801 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park, MN 55416; American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 2411, Great Falls, MT 59403; the Fifth Avenue Christian Church, 2015 Fifth Ave., Havre, MT 59501; or to a person's choice.

Services and arrangements are under the direction of Holland and Bonine Funeral Home of Havre.