Dewey Tommerdahl

Dewey Roger Tommerdahl, 74, a resident of Fergus Falls, died Friday, January 15, 2010, at the Pioneer Retirement Community in Fergus Falls. He was born October 26, 1935, the youngest child of Clara (Wick) and Oluf N. Tommerdahl of Ada, Minnesota. He graduated from Ada High School in 1953 and enrolled at Concordia College, Moorhead, MN. Following college he began working as a psychologist at the Grafton (ND) State School.  On June 29, 1959, he married his college sweetheart, Joyce Flint, of Elbow Lake, MN. In 1961 the family moved to Grand Forks, ND, where Dewey worked for the North Dakota Vocational and Rehabilitation Services, and started sheltered workshops in Fargo and Grand Forks. In 1964 he became Executive Director of Rolling Acres (Excelsior, MN), a residential facility for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. There he met Pat Rogers, who would be his employer for the remainder of his career. Dewey joined Rogers Benefit Group in 1965. The family moved to Fergus Falls in 1966. For more than thirty years Dewey traveled northwestern MN, eastern ND, and northeastern SD selling medical and life insurance coverage through banks to self-employed people and small business owners.  Following his retirement in 1995, Dewey joined the Pioneer Foundation Board, and eventually became Development Director for the Foundation. Dewey married Virginia (Flatin Flan) Johnson of Rothsay, MN, on April 29, 2000. Dewey was an active member of Augustana Lutheran Church, serving in various capacities over the years. He served on the Synod Council of the Northwest MN Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in the late 1980s. He also represented Augustana on the corporate board of the Pioneer Retirement Center during the 1990s. When his children were in high school, he was an active member of the Quarterback Club. Dewey enjoyed gardening, traveling, and following college football. He loved life and was involved in the lives of children his whole life. He was a proud friend to many neighborhood children, the children at Augustana Church, and his grandchildren. Survivors include his wife of nearly ten years, Virginia, of Fergus Falls; his daughter, Dawn (Rob Quanbeck) Tommerdahl of Glyndon, MN, and son, Mark (Annette) Tommerdahl of Monroe, Louisiana; his stepdaughters: Melanie (Chuck) Trites, Sioux Falls, Holly (Al) Spilles, Rogers, MN, Mary Jo Flan, Plymouth, MN, and Michele (Ross) Amundson, Eden Valley, MN; his stepson, Mark (Jane) Johnson, Alexandria, MN; seven grandchildren: Kendra (Erik) Saxvik, San Diego, CA, Andy Trites, serving in Afghanistan, Sam and Mitchell Spilles, Rogers, MN, Abbie (Cade) Wurster, Alexandria, MN, Derick Johnson, Alexandria, MN, and Quin Amundson, Eden Valley; and numerous nieces, nephews, and in-laws.  Preceding him in death were his wife, Joyce, his parents, his brothers Marvin, Vernie, and Irvin, and his sister, June. Memorials are preferred to the Pioneer Retirement Community Building Fund. Visitation: 5-7 p.m. Monday at the funeral home, with a 6:30 p.m. prayer service, and resumes one hour prior to the service at the church. Service: 2 p.m. Tuesday, January 19, 2010, at Augustana Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls Clergy: Reverend Nancy Monke and Chaplain Harry Olson Interment: Knollwood Memorial Gardens in Fergus Falls Funeral Home: Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls Condolences may be sent online at www.olsonfuneralhome.com