Floyd Synstelien

Floyd died peacefully October 21, 2024, at Cannon Rivers Assisted Living in Cannon Falls, MN at the age of 95.

Floyd Leroy Synstelien was born on May 26, 1929 to Clarence and Clara (Clauson) Synstelien. He was the fifth child of eight in the family and attended District 4 Elementary School in Dalton, MN one mile from his home. Floyd did not go to high school. He went to Estherville, Iowa to work the night shift in a bake shop for a year and a half. He then returned home to the farm to work for two and a half years.

At the age of 21, he was drafted into the Army Corps of Engineers and served 2 years at Fort Worden, Washington on standby for Korea. There he worked as a Company B Baker for 300 soldiers who worked with LCM boats. He also took 5 exams for high school and passed all of them, which gave him a high school diploma at Port Townsend.

Shortly after his Honorable Discharge, he enrolled at Concordia College in Moorhead, MN. After 4 years he graduated and then enrolled in Luther Theological Seminary in St. Paul, MN. Floyd was married to Mary Ann Wilkins in 1957. He had a year of internship at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls, MN and graduated from Luther Seminary in the spring of 1961 receiving his Master of Arts Degree. Floyd served at six different parishes throughout his career, spending 18 ½ years in Aurora, MN at Our Savior's Lutheran Church. His role as a minister kept him busy, and he was also a father of five children and on the school board. While in Aurora, in 1975, he led Our Savior's Lutheran in the resettlement of a Vietnamese refugee family. Floyd retired in 1994 and moved to Upper Cormorant Lake in Lake Park, MN where they bought their first home. He moved to Cannon Falls in the winter of 2022, living at Cannon Rivers Assisted Living close to his daughter Debbie.

Floyd's life was full of loving and listening to people. He made the experience of church fun with many entertaining children's sermons and bringing in music groups for Vacation Bible School. He enjoyed gathering with family to play Whist, Squeak, and 500. Floyd loved to fish and even invented the Leader Eater which was a handy way of storing fishing lures. He was very proud of his Norwegian heritage. He grew up speaking Norwegian and eating things like Lutefisk. He taught his kids to say the Norwegian table prayer and delighted his family with lefsa and krumkake.

He is survived by his five children, Lola (Bruce) Perkett of Newburgh, IN, Gregory Synstelien of Rochester, Nathaniel Synstelien of Holdingford, Deborah (John) Monson of Cannon Falls, Rebecca (Keith) Koivisto of Buffalo; thirteen grandchildren, Matthew (Emily) Perkett, Suzanne Perkett, Janine (Tyler) Reade, Zachary Synstelien, Gabe Synstelien, Natalie Synstelien (Wyatt), Thomas (Samantha) Monson, Kjersten (Nicholas) Anderson, Michael (Taylor) Monson, Jonathan Monson, Kayla (Brandon) Hill, Krista (A.J.) Niemela, Elizabeth Koivisto; six great - grandchildren, Hudson, Maverick, Elias, Lila, Elijah, and Everly; and his sister, Ardelle (Rick) Barry.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Clara; sister Candora; brothers, Norman, Arthur, Olin, Duane, Ordean; and his loving wife, Mary Ann.

Floyd will be buried beside his wife, Mary Ann at the Ten Mile Lake Cemetery in Dalton, MN.

Memorials are preferred to Cormorant Lutheran Church, Lake Park, MN, in care of Lola Perkett, 2044 Bent Tree Road, Newburgh, IN 47630.

Funeral Service: 1:00 p.m. Monday, November 4, 2024 at the Olson Funeral and Cremation Chapel in Fergus Falls, with visitation one-hour prior to the service.

Clergy: Reverend Reany Lindberg

Interment: Ten Mile Lake Cemetery, Dalton, MN

Arrangements provided by Olson Funeral and Cremation in Fergus Falls.

Online condolences may be sent to www.olsonfuneralhome.com