Alfred Rosgaard Sr.

The Rev. Alfred I. Rosgaard Sr., 94, passed away Friday, March 2, 2012, at Northern Montana Care Center, due to natural causes. His funeral service will be 1 p. m. Tuesday, March 6, 2012, at Messiah Lutheran Church, with Pastor Joel Skindlov officiating.

Burial with full military honors will follow at Highland Cemetery. At the completion of the service, a luncheon will be held at the church. Services and arrangements have been entrusted to Holland & Bonine Funeral Home.

Alfred was born to William G. and Hilda (Falde) Rosgaard at the homestead farm in Sioux County, Iowa, on May 26, 1917. He graduated from Fairview High School in nearby Fairview, S.D., in 1936. During World War II, he enlisted in the U. S. Army, serving first in the 249th Coast Artillery from 1941 to 1943. He witnessed the Japanese firing on the continental United States while stationed at Camp McCall, Wash. The shots fell short of the mainland. In 1943, he transferred into the paratroops and served with the 13th Airborne Division in the European Theater as a rigger until 1945.

Alfred married Edith C. (Marken) on Sept. 5, 1945, at Canton Lutheran Church in Canton, S.D. To this union, three children were born, Dorothy, Al Jr. and David. In 1949 Alfred graduated from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, and then furthered his studies at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minn., graduating in 1953. He was ordained at his home church, Bethany Lutheran Church, Fairview, S.D., in 1953. He served churches at Sherwood and rural Williston, N.D., and at Wibaux, Galata and Richland, Mont. He retired from the ministry in 1982, retiring to Townsend, Mont., and relocated to Havre in 1999.

Alfred was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Edith.

He is survived by his children, Dorothy (Jim) Haney of Panama City, Fla., Al (Janice) Rosgaard of Havre, and David Rosgaard of Arlington, Wash. ; brother, Richard (Alvera) Rosgaard of Rock Valley, Iowa; grandchildren, Jason Haney and John Haney of Panama City, Fla. ; Ashlin, Jared, and Justin Rosgaard of Havre, Mont. ; great-grandchildren, Ashleigh, Jaedon and Layla Haney of Panama City, Fla. ; several cousins, nephews and

nieces.