Einar Klofstad 1911-2007
Einar Klofstad 1911-2007
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Funeral Services for Einar Klofstad were held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, December 15. Pastor David Curtright officiated at the service at Plentywood Lutheran Church; interment was in Plentywood Memorial Cemetery. Casketbearers were Christian Anderson, Joel Bjorgen, Carson Blair, Jan Blair, Casey Klofstad, and Don & Ginny Larson. Honorary Bearers were The Jon Anderson family: Jon, Charell, Christian, Ben, and Jack; Liz Anderson, Glenny Bervik, Anita Bjorgen, Bette Johnson, Betty Johnson, Dorothy Johnson, Irene Johnson, Doris Romstad, Shorty Timmerman, Norris Tronson, Myrtle Waller, Dagny Wold, the Members of The Golden Years Club, and the Staff and Residents of Sheridan Memorial Nursing Home. Ushers were Linda Cartwright and Susan Hancock. Einar passed away December 12, at the Sheridan Nursing
Home. He was 96.
Einar was born July 21, 1911, in rural Kintyre, North Dakota. He was the youngest child of Norwegian immigrants Andrew and Amalia (Olson) Klofstad. When he was 4 years old the family moved to rural Outlook. He was baptized at Plentywood Lutheran Church and lived in Sheridan County all of his adult life. He graduated from Outlook High School in 1930. He attended college in Minot, but had to come home at Christmas because he had no money and no prospects for a job. Those were difficult times for a young man. He said "I had no money, no job and no transportation, not even a bicycle". When work was available he worked as a farm laborer. In 1934, he got his break when he was
offered a work/study grant at Northern in Havre. He completed a one course of study and was awarded a Teaching Certificate. Einar got a teaching job at Gibson School, north of Raymond, just a mile from the border.
Einar met Myrtle Johnson, his wife of 70 years, at a dance at the Nickerson Barn near Outlook. They were married in 1936.They made their home for several years in an 8 by 13 foot teacherage attached to the south side of the Gibson School. But, it was the Depression and they had a steady pay check.
In 1942 they moved to Box Elder Street in Plentywood when Einar became the 7th and 8th grade teacher in Plentywood. Einar began working for Woodward's clothing store (later called Anthony's). He was drafted and served as a 34 year old Private in the Army for 9 months at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, just before the end of the War. He became the store manager at Woodward's and completed his career at Anthony's. He was known as the shoe man. Einar was a diligent manager. In the year of his retirement he was recognized with a trip to Hawaii for having the best profit margin of all the stores in Montana, Idaho and Wyoming.
Myrtle and Einar lived on Jefferson Street for 50 years. During his years as a businessman he also performed his civic duties. He served on the School Board for 10 years including the time the Gym was built. He was active and served in leadership positions in Boy Scouts, Lions, the American Legion, the Masonic Lodge and the Shrine. He was a member of Plentywood Lutheran Church.
Einar approached retirement with vigor. He turned the keys for "The Store" over to the new manager, bought some power tools, insulated half of his garage, bought a wood burner, ordered a set of golf clubs and never looked back. They tried Arizona for one winter and then settled into Plentywood year around. He shot a 39 on the Golf Course at age 80. He began using a computer at age 89. His only expressed regret is that he outlived so many of his friends.
He is survived by two sons and their families: Gary and his wife Barbara of Wausau, Wisconsin; Glenn and his wife Char of Missoula. His grandchildren are Kari Hazen and her husband Tim of Bloomington, Illinois and their daughters (Einar's great-granddaughters) Zoe and Mia; Eric Klofstad and his wife Ana of Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin;
Casey Klofstad of Maimi; Kristi Klofstad of Seattle; Jason Klofstad and his wife Judy of San Francisco. He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 70 years, Myrtle, an infant son Randal, a sister
Esther and brothers Arthur, Bjarne, Sigurd, and Oswald.
Fulkerson Funeral home has charge of arrangements.