Allan Kjelland

Allan H. Kjelland, 93, of Moorhead, MN, died Monday, March 23, 2015 at Villa Maria Nursing Home in Fargo, under the care of Hospice of the Red River Valley.

Allan Harold Kjelland was born November 26, 1921, in Valley City, ND, to Benjamin and Laura Krueslich Kjelland. He grew up in Valley City and attended rural Hobart Township School. After completing school he began working as farm labor for his neighbors until he enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1944. He completed his basic training at Great Lakes Naval Station and served two years in the Navy, most of that time aboard the U.S.S. Bunker Hill. On May 25, 1945 he married Dorothy Senrick in Valley City, while he was in boot camp. After his discharge from the Navy, Allan began farming in the Valley City area. In 1955 Allan and Dorothy moved to Farmington, MN and he began his career transporting new Ford vehicles for K.W. McKee in St. Paul, MN. He retired from McKee in 1981.

Allan was a true farmer at heart and loved spending time planting his garden, tending to his well-manicured lawn and helping family in the Valley City area at harvest time. Allan loved spending time at auction sales and he and Dorothy collected many antiques including Red Wing pottery and Rosemeade. He also was a skilled craftsman in furniture and antique trunk refinishing. Most of all, he loved his family, and his grandchildren were a great source of enjoyment for him.

He is survived by his wife, Dorothy, and his children, Judy Jay, Valley City, Larry Kjelland, Moorhead, Michael Sue Kjelland, Alexandria, MN, and Mary Scott Sugden, Anchorage, AK; brothers Arnold Kjelland, Banks, OR and Curtis Ginger Kjelland, Valley City; sister Betty Bostrom, Valley City; grandchildren, Robert Peggy Jay, Erin Chris Tombarge, Andy Kjelland and Matt Kjelland; 4 great-grandchildren and 6 great-great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Lawrence, Clayton and Carson.