Albert N. Birkeland

MERRIFIELD -- Albert Nelius Birkeland, age 89, resident of Merrifield, died Thursday, Oct. 30, 2003, at Bethany Good Samaritan Village. Albert was born on Nov. 3, 1913, in Freeborn County to Conrad and Aase (Burgason) Birkeland. Albert was baptized Dec. 23, 1913, in Deer Creek Lutheran Church, Freeborn County, Minn., by the Rev. Haus Fosness. At the age of 5 years Albert moved with his family to Chippewa County, Minn. He was confirmed in the Buffalo Lake Lutheran Church, Chippewa County, Minn., by the Rev. E.S. Eidesvik. He graduated from Rural School District No. 36 and Dunwoody College of Technology in Minneapolis, Minn., in their electrical department.

Albert was inducted into World War II at Fort Snelling, Minn., on Jan. 25, 1942, with basic training at Fort Devans, Mass., in the 101st Calvary. He was sent to Midland Radio/TV in Kansas City, Mo., and several other Army camps before going to Liverpool, England, and Barrow, England, in October 1944. On Jan. 4, 1945, his outfit left Southampton, England, to La Havre, France. A week later he was at the front for 90 days, before Germany surrendered in May 1945. He visited several of the Nazi Concentration Camps before being sent back to the U.S. to prepare for the Pacific War. He was discharged from Separation Camp in Indiantown Gap, Pa., when the Pacific War ended in August of 1945.

From 1953 to 1990 Albert owned an electric contractor business, Birkeland Electric Service, in Merrifield, Minn.

Albert is survived by his brother, Norman Birkeland of Maynard, Minn.; sister Florence Felber and her husband Harvey of Bloomington, Minn.; nephew Dale Kramer, of Merrifield, Minn., who was with Albert in his contracting business; and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, and great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews.

Albert was preceded in death by his parents; by brothers, Clarence and Nuel Birkeland; sisters Alvina Dyshaw, Nora Kramer, Sophie Kramer and Sylvia Birkeland; as well as by a brother, Albert and sister Olga, of a very young age.

Services will held at 11 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 3, 2003, at Lutheran Church of the Cross church in Nisswa with Pastor Kurt Wied officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the church. Military Honors provided by the American Legion Post No. 255 Color Guard.

Services also will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2003, at Buffalo Lake Lutheran Church in Chippewa County, Minn. with Pastor Carlton Nelson officiating. Visitation will be the hour before services at the church. Burial will be in Buffalo Lake Cemetery.

Arrangements are with Nelson-Doran Funeral Home of Brainerd.