Dennis Madsen

Dennis John Madsen, 88, of Fergus Falls , died Tuesday, December 21, 2010, at the Broen Home in Fergus Falls .

He was born May 29, 1922 in Section 26 of Dane Prairie Township, Otter Tail County , MN , to Max and Anna (Trana) Madsen. He grew up on the family farm and attended school in District 19. He was baptized as a lad in the Methodist parsonage in Fergus.

He worked on various farms until he entered the United States Army in September. 1942. He was honorably discharged in 1946. In 1946 he started working highway construction for the John Dieseth Company.

On November. 12, 1949 he married Dorothy Hokanson in Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls . He and Dorothy were blessed with five daughters.

In 1952 he purchased his own bulldozer and did custom work in the Fergus area through 1966 at which time he sold his equipment. For the next two years he worked at various jobs.

In 1969 he began driving semi-truck for Julian Wold of Fergus and Midland Co-op of Fridley, MN. He continued to drive for Midland Co-op until June of 1982 when he had to quit driving because of back problems.

In 1983 the couple moved to Carlisle , MN where they lived for 22 years. They then moved to an apartment in Fergus Falls .

Dennis was very giving and put the needs of others before his own. He cherished spending time with his beloved wife, precious “girls” and their spouses, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, family and friends. He enjoyed driving tractor and helping on the farm, gardening, singing, attending veteran’s tributes, word games, woodworking and writing. Dennis loved the Lord and wrote about his faith. He was published in Faith and Fellowship , Morning Glory and his own book Something to Read .

He is survived by his wife Dorothy of 61 years, five daughters: Susan (Alan) Schmeling of rural Hayfield , MN ; Linda (Richard) Ronnevik of Carlisle, MN; Sharon (Tim) Voth of Dickinson, ND; Diane (David) Vlasaty of rural Mason , WI ; Eileen, (Tom) Sullivan of Maple Grove, MN. 12 grandchildren: Nathan (Jen) Schmeling, Eric (Lindsay) Schmeling, Michael (Teri) Schmeling, Krista (fiancé Cole) Schmeling, Knut (Gretchen) Ronnevik, Jon (Kristin) Ronnevik, Rondi (Chris) Hamilton, Lars Ronnevik , Emily (Chad) Thompson, Naomi (Brian) Bloomberg, Ellie and Grace Sullivan, and 13 great-grandchildren; a brother-in-law Guy F. Rowe and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends.

Preceding him in death were his parents, in-laws and two sisters, Maine (Ernest) Walvatne, of Dalton , MN and Evelyn (Guy) Rowe of Otsego, MN.