John C. Skramstad

John Curtis Skramstad, 90, a resident of Fergus Falls, died Monday, November 26, 2012, at PioneerCare in Fergus Falls.

He was born September 22, 1922, in Montevideo, Minnesota, the son of Theodore and Clara (Olson) Skramstad. He grew up there where he attended school, graduating from Montevideo High School. Following his graduation he joined the U.S. Navy. During WW II he served as an Aviation Fire Controlman First Class, and was stationed at Bouganville, New Haberdese and American Samoa over a 19 month period.

After his discharge from the Navy in February of 1946, he returned to Montevideo where he began a career in the lumber business. In December of 1946 he married Dorothy Christianson after many heart-filled letters while he was overseas. They built a house next to John’s parents’ home, and had a son, Richard, in 1948.

In January of 1950 John purchased a lumber yard in Inkster, North Dakota, and the family moved to Inkster. While in Inkster, the family grew with the birth of three daughters, Margaret in 1951, Ruth in 1954, and Kathleen in 1957.

In the spring of 1957, John’s family moved to Mitchell, South Dakota where John worked for Fullerton Lumber. The next move was to Hastings, Minnesota, in 1961, where he worked for Gibson Lumber. Finally in 1962 he and his family moved to Fergus Falls, where he worked for Fergus Lumber and Fuel until he started Skramstad’s Paint and Wallpaper in 1965.

John made a career shift in 1970 when he became deputy county assessor for Otter Tail County. In 1984 he formally retired, but continued doing contract assessing work for several years, finally ending his employment years in 1991. John was always serving others, volunteering for driving medical supplies throughout the county from 1985 – 2003. John also took on the care and maintenance of Oak Grove Cemetery for several years.

He was an active member of First Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls.

Preceding him in death were his parents, and his three older brothers.

Survivors include his wife, Dorothy Skramstad of Fergus Falls; son, Richard (Abby Smith) Skramstad of Seattle, WA; daughters: Margaret (James) Maloney of St. Paul, Ruth (Bob) Thurau of St. Louis, MO, and Kathleen (Garry) Peters of Portland, OR; grandchildren: Adam (Christine) Thurau, David (Beth) Thurau, Michael Thurau, Kyle Peters, and London Peters; and a great-grandchild due in May.

Visitation: 5-7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home and resumes one hour prior to the service at the church.
Service: 11 a.m. Saturday, December 1, 2012, at First Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls
Clergy: Reverend Saul Stensvaag
Interment: Oak Grove Cemetery in Fergus Falls
Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls is in charge of the arrangements.

Condolences may be sent online at www.olsonfuneralhome.com