Wallace
Wallace Blakestad
d. April 6, 2009
Wallace Blakestad, 75, died April 6, 2009, at the Humboldt Care Center South. A celebration of his life will be held Thursday, April 9 at 11:00 a.m. at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Humboldt. Visitation will be Wednesday, April 8, from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. at the Mason-Lindhart Funeral Home. Burial will be at Union Cemetery before the funeral.
Wallace Franklin Blakestad was born on a farm near Otranto Station, Iowa, to Sophus Blakestad and Vera Clark Blakestad on July 5, 1933. He was born in the same house as his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.
He attended school in Northwood, Iowa, and graduated in 1951. He attended Luther College, where he sang and toured with the Nordic Choir. He then attended the University of Iowa where he received a B.S. degree in pharmacy in 1955. He worked at Osincup Drug in Washington until he was drafted in 1957 and served in Korea. He married Marie Dorothy Kaufman from Wayland on May 16, 1957, in Swedesburg.
After Wally’s return in 1959 they moved to Humboldt, where he worked for Larson Drug until 1972, when he purchased the store from Charles Larson. The store was razed and a new one built in 1978, when the business was renamed Blakestad Drug. He and Marie worked there until 2001, when Wally retired after 44 years as a pharmacist and business owner.
He belonged to Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, where he sang in the choir, served as church council president, and taught Sunday School. He and Marie made coffee at the church every Sunday for many years. He was also a 50-year Mason, belonged to the H.A.R.K. amateur radio club, and was also a volunteer ambulance driver for many years, a member of the first class of trainees. He also set-up and ran the pharmacy at the Humboldt County Memorial Hospital when it first opened in 1970.
Wally enjoyed many hobbies, including woodworking and carpentry, amateur radio, and music. As a high school student, he was selected to sing and play baritone horn in the first All State Band and Chorus, and in Humboldt he sang in the Community Chorus. In later years he enjoyed fishing trips to Canada, e-mailing with friends and relatives, and watching Hawkeye sports. Two of his greatest pleasures were having his daughter, Janet, return to Humboldt to join him in the pharmacy, and traveling to England to see his daughter Nancy receive her Ph.D. at Oxford University.
He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Marie, daughter Janet (Ken) Bade, of Humboldt, and Dr. Nancy Blakestad of St. Paul, MN. He has two step grandchildren, Dan and Scott (Erika) Bade of St. Paul, MN. He has one brother, Neil (Beth) Blakestad of Two Harbors, MN, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Wallace Franklin Blakestad was born on a farm near Otranto Station, Iowa, to Sophus Blakestad and Vera Clark Blakestad on July 5, 1933. He was born in the same house as his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.
He attended school in Northwood, Iowa, and graduated in 1951. He attended Luther College, where he sang and toured with the Nordic Choir. He then attended the University of Iowa where he received a B.S. degree in pharmacy in 1955. He worked at Osincup Drug in Washington until he was drafted in 1957 and served in Korea. He married Marie Dorothy Kaufman from Wayland on May 16, 1957, in Swedesburg.
After Wally’s return in 1959 they moved to Humboldt, where he worked for Larson Drug until 1972, when he purchased the store from Charles Larson. The store was razed and a new one built in 1978, when the business was renamed Blakestad Drug. He and Marie worked there until 2001, when Wally retired after 44 years as a pharmacist and business owner.
He belonged to Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, where he sang in the choir, served as church council president, and taught Sunday School. He and Marie made coffee at the church every Sunday for many years. He was also a 50-year Mason, belonged to the H.A.R.K. amateur radio club, and was also a volunteer ambulance driver for many years, a member of the first class of trainees. He also set-up and ran the pharmacy at the Humboldt County Memorial Hospital when it first opened in 1970.
Wally enjoyed many hobbies, including woodworking and carpentry, amateur radio, and music. As a high school student, he was selected to sing and play baritone horn in the first All State Band and Chorus, and in Humboldt he sang in the Community Chorus. In later years he enjoyed fishing trips to Canada, e-mailing with friends and relatives, and watching Hawkeye sports. Two of his greatest pleasures were having his daughter, Janet, return to Humboldt to join him in the pharmacy, and traveling to England to see his daughter Nancy receive her Ph.D. at Oxford University.
He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Marie, daughter Janet (Ken) Bade, of Humboldt, and Dr. Nancy Blakestad of St. Paul, MN. He has two step grandchildren, Dan and Scott (Erika) Bade of St. Paul, MN. He has one brother, Neil (Beth) Blakestad of Two Harbors, MN, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents.
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