Milfred "Miff" Somdalen

Milfred “Miff” Somdalen, age 89, of Lengby, MN, passed away on Tuesday, September 19^th, at Essentia First Care Living Center in Fosston. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, September 25^th, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Lengby with the Rev. Gene Lilienthal officiating. Interment will be in Immanuel Cemetery, Lengby. Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service on Sunday, September 24^th, at the Carlin Funeral Home in Fosston. There will also be reviewal for one hour prior to the service on at the church. Military honors will be provided by the Spring Lake V.F.W. Post #2759 of Lengby and the National Guard Honors Team. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to St. Paul Lutheran Church or Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery fund. Arrangements are with Carlin Family Funeral Service of Fosston and messages of condolence may be shared at www.carlinfuneral.com.

Miff was born in Ross, North Dakota on October 21, 1933, to Edward and Alvina (Schacher) Somdalen. He was baptized and lived in Manitou, North Dakota and moved to Spokane Washington as a child where his dad was a mechanic and his mother worked making supplies for the WWII war effort. In 1945 at 12 years old he moved to Lengby, MN with his parents.  Miff would walk, ski and ride horse to the LaDuke one room schoolhouse through the 8^th grade, living on the farm with milk cows, chickens, and sheep. Miff was drafted into the Army in 1956 and attended boot camp in Fort Sill Oklahoma and was stationed in Germany. After his honorable discharge Miff worked in Alaska and logged with his cousins in northern Minnesota.  In 1966 Miff married Deloris “Freyholtz” Lende and became an instant father of six Lende children. To this union a daughter Shirley was born. After they were married Miff and Deloris farmed, share cropped several farms, and raised sheep, milk cows, and later, beef cattle up to his retirement. Miff enjoyed the outdoors, maple syruping, deer hunting, dancing, his Norwegian Kool-Aid aka beer and spending time with friends and family. Miff never met a person he couldn’t strike up a conversation with. At 10 years old while in school in Spokane Washington Miff’s report card had a comment that read “does unnecessary talking”.

Milfred was preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Alvina, brother Arnold, and sister Elaine.

Miff is survived by his wife Deloris (Freyholtz) Lende Somdalen of 56 years and their children Craig (Jill) Lende, David (Jody) Lende, Norman (Shar) Lende, Steven (Lona) Lende, Barbara Carr (Mike Adensam), Darrell (Linda) Lende, Shirley (Brad) Erickson, Grandchildren Nicole (Jeremy) Smith, Dave (Michelle) Melby, Alex Lende, Dylan Lende, Brittany (Tim) Dorn, Amanda (Tyler) Paulson, Abby Lende, Amber Erickson, Tyler Erickson, Heather Erickson. Great Grandchildren Kai, Pyper, Ellie, Jamison, Kaitlyn, Emily, Aden, Sibyl, Raelynn.