Allan Sorenson

LIFE HISTORY FOR ALLAN SORENSON
Allan Sorenson, age 81 of Osakis died suddenly on Thursday, January 24, 2008 at the Long Prairie Memorial Hospital in Long Prairie, MN.
Allan James Sorenson was born on March 21, 1926 to Arthur and Clara (Ingvalson) Sorenson in Osakis, MN. He attended the elementary school in District # 63 in Gordon Township. In 1944 he graduated from Osakis High School and was then inducted into the U.S. Army. He served as a Headquarter Clerk at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. and was discharged in 1946. Allan returned to Minnesota and worked for several area farmers before getting a job in Minneapolis in the meat industry. He worked for 30 to 40 years for Independent Packing, Spencer Foods, Landy Packing and a short term at Arctic Industries until his retirement. He moved back to Osakis in 1988 and kept busy as a substitute bus driver for Osakis Public Schools for a few years.
Al was an avid hunter and trapper and also loved sports. He attended many sports games whenever he had the chance. His favorite sport was baseball and Al knew every player, their batting average and who they played for in both the American and National leagues. He especially liked taking his grandson, Lyle to his baseball games and played ball in his own youth, often as the catcher.
In 1976 Allan was united in marriage to Dorothy Ulrich and they lived in Minneapolis until they moved to their present home in rural Osakis. He was a member of the Salem Lutheran Church and the Little Sauk legion. Besides spending time with his family, he also enjoyed doing crossword puzzles, playing cards, especially 500 and working in his vegetable garden.
Allan is preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy 'Dolly', who died on November 17, 2007 and her son, Terry Robert Thotland, Allan's parents, a brother, Eugene Sorenson and a sister, Adeline Pynes.
He is survived by his stepson, Julius (Florence) Vold of University Park, MD; 3 grandchildren, Lyle Vold of Maryland, Tonya (Mark) Erickson of Staples, Terry Allen Thotland of Staples; 3 great grandchildren, Terry Lowell, Teresa and Tasha Erickson; 6 brothers, Ken (Arlene) Sorenson of Osakis, Maurice (Janet) Sorenson of Osakis, Duane (Jan) Sorenson of Sauk Centre, Ron Sorenson of Sauk Centre, Carmen (Cynthia) Sorenson of Osakis, Roger (Phyllis) Sorenson of Osakis; 2 sisters, Lorraine Buzick of St. Cloud and Clarice Sorenson of Fargo; a brother-in-law, Russell LaBelle; 3 sisters-in-law, Joyce Buntje, Laura Otheim and Lydia 'Babe' Cook; his niece and caregiver, Sharon Sorenson and all his nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held for Allan on Monday, January 28, 2008 at 1:00 pm at the Salem Lutheran Church in rural Osakis with Rev. Steve Hilde officiating. Musicians were organist, Ione Johnson and Sonya Starry and vocalists, Ray Mikkelson, Joyce Buntje and the Gordon Men's Chorus. Interment was at the church cemetery with full military honors provided by the Osakis VFW Post Honor Guard. Casketbearers were his six brothers and honorary bearers were his grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Arrangements were handled by the Roy-Hetland Funeral Home in Osakis, MN.