Cover photo for Virgil LeRoy Krogstad's Obituary
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1926 Virgil 2019

Virgil LeRoy Krogstad

November 12, 1926 — October 26, 2019

Virgil Krogstad Life Sketch Virgil Leroy Krogstad was born on November 12, 1926, in Murray County, Minnesota, to Severin and Daisy Krogstad.  He was born at home on the original homestead of his paternal grandparents Arnt and Hannah Krogstad.  The homestead was located in Murray County, Lime Lake Township, near the small town of Avoca, in the southwest corner of Minnesota. Virgil was born in the same room as his father Severin was born in twenty-six years earlier.  During the early years of Virgil's life the family lived on rented farms in the general area around Avoca.  Virgil attended one-room country schools through the 8th grade and routinely brought home nearly perfect report cards.  Life was difficult much of the time because of the Great Depression of the 1930s. In late 1939, father, Severin, and a friend, Earl Farenholtz, headed north looking for farmland they may be able to purchase.  Severin knew some folks, the Walther brothers, with whom he had attended grade school and who now lived near Callaway, Minnesota.  He stopped to visit them and learned that nearby a Norwegian bachelor farmer, Carl Gilbertson, was ill and was not able to continue farming.  Severin went to visit with Carl and at the end of the conversation, Carl, who had now learned about the family, offered him the 160-acre farm simply for taking over the mortgage payments.  The following spring, the family moved from the Avoca area to Callaway, Minnesota.  It was quite an adventure. Severin bought a truck.  If memory is correct, he paid $200 for it and began ferrying the tractor and farm machinery, horses, cows, chickens and what household furnishings and personal effects the family had up to Callaway.  Virgil remembered there were seven trips. The distance was about 200 miles. Virgil, age 13, and the cows went on the next to the last load.  Carl still lived in the house, so Virgil camped in a shed and cared for the cows.  This was an early display of Virgil's exceptional responsibility, a character trait which, along with his generosity and helpfulness, followed him the rest of his life.  About two weeks later, the final truck load, household goods, miscellaneous stuff, etc. arrived followed by the rest of the family in the old Model A Ford. The 1940s were good years for farmers.  The whole family pitched in and worked hard.  Severin spent long hours tilling the fields.  Virgil was the mainstay in caring for the increasing numbers of livestock.  The family was able to purchase more land, up-to-date equipment and enjoy several years of prosperity.  A further blessing which accrued because of the move, was the ability to attend the Detroit Lakes Seventh-day Adventist Church.  Each and all of the family members became active members and remained thus so long as they lived in the area.  Virgil was a lifelong supporting member of the Church. Virgil married the love his life, Gertrude Hanson, on June 11, 1951 in the Detroit Lakes Seventh-day Adventist Church.  Shortly after, they moved to Webb, Iowa where he continued farming.  While there, three of their four children were born – Joan, Linda and Allan.  They later moved back to the Callaway area to continue farming with his father.  While there, Connie was born.  A few years later he moved closer to Detroit Lakes and starting farming on his own.  When he retired from farming he got his GED and then Real Estate license to pursue his business career.  He later retired from Real Estate and joined the volunteers at Adventist Community Services.  He loved working with the people there, packing and filling boxes with their purchases and the social life it created.  He was also an active member of the Detroit Lakes Seventh-day Adventist church and worked in various capacities over the years. Virgil is survived by his wife, Gertrude; siblings: Arnt (Donna) Krogstad and Norma (Bob) Klein; children: Joan (Robert) Russell, Linda (Rick) Earley, Allan (Kristi) Krogstad and Connie (Jimmy) Hendry; grandchildren: Jason Earley, Melanie (Joe) Bahneman, Heather (JR) Turner, Shane Krogstad, Joshua (Jennifer) Walker, Heidi Dillon, Christina (Clint) Armstrong; great grandchildren: Katie, Krissy and Nevaeh Turner, Joey and Katelyn Bahneman, Hannah and Haleigh Boese, Carter and Austin Earley, Aubrey and Bree Walker along with many nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, step grandchildren and great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Severin and Daisy Krogstad, his sister Violet (Ted) Klein, and niece Geni Karen Krogstad.  
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