Ernest Lundtvedt

Wednesday, December 28, 2016 2:39 pm

Ernest Lundtvedt, 81, of Decorah, died Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2016, at Wellington Place Nursing Home, in Decorah. Services were at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 31, at Decorah Lutheran Church in Decorah, with Rev. Dave Sorenson officiating. Organist was Kathy Murray. Soloist was Karen Stock. Hymns were “Amazing Grace,” “How Great Thou Art” and “Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee.” Casket bearers were Kevin Gilbertson, Devin Gilbertson, Greg Koester, Cody Kriener, Scott Thamert, Hunter Thamert, Wayne Tweten, Donald Lundtvedt, Ronald Koester, William Montoya, Austin Weber and Ross Koester. Interment will be at Lutheran Cemetery in the spring, with military rites provided by Decorah area military groups. Arrangements were handled by Schluter – Balik Funeral Home in Decorah.    

Ernest Walter Lundtvedt was born Aug. 22, 1935, the son of Gunder and Olga (Skaim) Lundtvedt on the family farm, near Waukon. Ernie attended Rocksvold country school in Glenwood township from kindergarten through 7th grade. He attended Mabel High School for his freshman and sophomore year and then Decorah High School for his last two years where he graduated in 1954. He served in the US Army on active duty from Sept. 23, 1954, to Sept. 8, 1956. He trained in Arkansas and then was stationed in Berlin, Germany. Ernie met his future wife at a dance in La Crosse, Wis. Ernie was united in marriage to Lillian Olson at Lewis Valley Lutheran Church July 8, 1961, in Stevenstown, Wis. He returned after the service and worked for Rockwell Collins in Cedar Rapids for one year. He then began as a printer and ran a printing press at Anundsen’s Publishing in Decorah for 47 and a half years, retiring in 2005. Ernie also worked for the Midland Gas Station, painted homes with his brother Gilman and delivered the Des Moines Sunday Register with his nephew, Donnie Lundtvedt. Ernie was well known for writing poems and for loving music. He played the violin, banjo and accordion. He taught his daughters to play and together they formed two bands, called “The Family Circle” and then “Ernie and the Girls.” He also played in two other bands, called “The Iowegians” and “The Temporary Three.” Ernie also enjoyed camping, fishing, dancing, playing cards, playing music and spending time with his family. Ernie was a member of the Decorah Lutheran Church, Helof Holm VFW Chapter No. 1977, and was a former Sons of Norway Member.

Ernie is survived by his four daughters: Linda (Kevin) Gilbertson, Decorah; Laurie (Greg) Koester, Waukon; Lisa Kriener, Cresco; and Lois (Scott) Thamert, Rochester, Minn.; seven grandchildren: Erin (William) Montoya, Devin (Samantha) Gilbertson, Kayla (Austin) Weber, Ross (fiancé Carley Looney) Koester, Cody Kriener, Shaina Kriener and Hunter Thamert; four great-grandchildren: Liam and Landon  Weber and Aleigha and Brielle Koester; two sisters, Marlys Schulte, Decorah and Arla Mae (Lester) Hjelmeland, Winona, Minn.; four sisters-in-law: Alvera (Carl) Leibl, Galesville, Wis., Gloria (Jim) Erickson, Houston, Minn., Margaret Lundtvedt, Caledonia, Minn. and Marlene Lundtvedt, Albert Lea, Minn.; and by Lillian’s double first cousins, Diane Smith, Holmen, Wis. and Jim Hanson, La Crosse, Wis.

Ernie was preceded in death by his parents, Gunder and Olga (Skaim) Lundtvedt; his wife, Lillian Lundtvedt, Jan. 13, 2010; four brothers: Kenneth Lundtvedt, Oscar Lundtvedt, Gilman (Gladys) Lundtvedt and Arnold Lundtvedt; one sister, Agnes (Norman) Koester; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Orville and Alma (Kamprud) Olson; Lillian’s double cousins, Shirley Hanson and Duane Olson; and a special family friend, Howard Mahlum.