Sylvan P. Lien

Sylvan P. Lien, 80, a resident of rural Dalton, died peacefully Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at his home under the loving care of family and Lakeland Hospice.

Sylvan was born on January 27, 1933 at the home of his parents Oscar T. and Mildred (Swendsrud) Lien located 5 miles northeast of Dalton. The house in which he was born was later moved into Dalton. This was the time of the “Great Depression”, and as anyone who lived at that time can tell you, it made a lasting impression on your life. Everyone was poor, but Sylvan never went hungry. There were no indoor bathrooms later, so baths were taken on Saturday night in a wash tub in the kitchen, “whether you needed it or not”.

He attended grade school in Dalton through the 8th grade. Marlys Rude was also a classmate and good friend. She and Sylvan started “going together” and graduated from Fergus Falls High School together in 1951.

During the 1940’s, Sylvan worked at numerous jobs while attending school, mostly farm work and truck driving, hauling milk cans and grain during harvest in the fall. This of course was also the time of the war and there was rationing, air raid drills, and for those who were so young and did not understand it all.

The church and school were the center of the community while Sylvan grew up in Dalton. He was active in church from an early age. First Sunday school, then choir and Luther League and even taught Sunday school for a number of years all at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Dalton. Sylvan remained a lifelong member of this congregation. The Ten Mile Lake congregation merged into Our Saviors and the congregation became known as Our Saviors-Ten Mile Lake Lutheran church. Sylvan served on the church council for a number of 3 years terms. He was active in remodeling the church and at times conducted the morning worship services.

In 1953 he married Marlys Rude at Our Saviors Lutheran Church. To this marriage three children were born, Jeff, Nancy and Becky. In February of 1980, Marlys died of cancer and the funeral was at the same church and burial in the church cemetery.

In 1981 Sylvan married Peggy (Erickson) Durham at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Dalton. Peggy had two children from her first marriage, John and Scott Durham. In 1982 Sylvan and Peggy built a new home near the home Sylvan already had near Stalker Lake.

After graduating from high school he began farming on the farm where he was born. One year after getting married he was drafted into the United States Army for a two year tour of duty. One year of his time was spent on Eniwetok Atol (Island) in the Pacific. It was here that the atomic bombs were being tested. Upon returning to the states, Sylvan completed his tour as an MP. After discharge from the Army in 1956, he returned to farming in Dalton with his brother, Harlan.

In 1966 Sylvan left farming and went to work as a salesman for Prudential Insurance Company. In 1971 he left Prudential and took over the insurance agency at the bank in Dalton. In 1976 he went to work for Austin/Northern Insurance Company of Minneapolis. He became a Director on the Board of Northern Insurance Company. After retiring from full time work in 1995 he continued to work part time as an insurance adjuster for The Austin Group of Companies until 2001.

After retirement he became a very skilled woodworker and much of his time was spent in the woodworking shop. He has built numerous items of furniture for his family as well as friends. He made grandfather clocks for all the children and oak chests for his granddaughters; model cars, trucks and fire engines for his grandsons. He also restored two wooden boats; a lap strake Thompson and Newport boat. In 2011 he started carving and made over 58 figurines in the Scandinavian Flat Plane carving style. He also enjoyed being outdoors and most of his time was spent doing yard work on the lawn along the river. After retirement, each morning Sylvan could be found visiting with friends over coffee.

He took the position of clerk on the Tordenskjold Township in 2004 until 2012. He put the township bookkeeping on the computer for the first time in history.

In May of 2006 Sylvan and Peggy took a 3 week trip to Canada and the Eastern United States. This was to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary. Other trips included Europe, Norway and around the United States.

Sylvan was a charter member of the Dalton Lions. He belonged to the Ashby Legion and participated in the Color Guard at parades, funerals and Memorial Day services. He also was a member of Sons of Norway in Fergus Falls and was known for his telling of Norwegian jokes and stories.

Preceding him in death were his parents; first wife, Marlys; mothers and fathers in-law, Maggie and Oscar Rude, Myra and Walter Erickson; sister-in-law, Patricia (Rude) Erickson and many aunts and uncles.

Survivors include his wife, Peggy of rural Dalton; son, Jeff of Fergus Falls; two daughters, Nancy (Steve) Moss and Becky (Ron) Saurer all of Dalton; two step-sons, John (Lori) Durham of Moorhead, MN, Scott (Whitney) Durham of St. Charles, MO; 11 grandchildren, Trevor (Christina) Saurer, Travis (Tina Soland) Saurer, Mike Moss, Mark (Alicia) Moss, Matt (fiancée, Mali Hegseth), Justin Saurer, Steven Durham, Sara Durham, Morgan Durham, Emma Durham, Andrew Durham; four great-grandchildren, Brady and Brenna Saurer, Rylan and Kamryn Moss; brother, Harlan Lien of Dalton; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Jim (Ilene) Rude, Marwood (Marion) Rude, Wallace (Kathy) Erickson, Eileen (Budd) Hein, Darlene (John) Romportl; aunt, Sally Swendsrud; many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Sylvan will be remembered for his wonderful smile and personality, his woodworking and love for his family and his extended family.

Memorials are preferred to OS-TML of Dalton or Lakeland Hospice.

Visitation: 5 to 7 p.m. Friday with a public prayer service at 6:30 p.m. at the funeral home and resumes one hour prior to the service at the church.
Service: 2 p.m. Saturday, March 16, 2013 at Our Saviors-Ten Mile Lake Lutheran church in Dalton, MN
Clergy: Reverend Tom Junkert
Military Participation: Ashby American Legion
Burial: Our Saviors Cemetery, Dalton, MN