Roy Amdahl

ROY AMDAHL was born on September 30, 1922, along with his twin brother Ray, to C.J. and Christine (Johnson) Amdahl in Flandreau, South Dakota. He attended elementary school in Flandreau, and then the family moved to Pipestone, Minnesota where he continued his education. He graduated from Pipestone High School in 1940.

On December 17, 1942, Roy enlisted in the U.S. Army and served during World War II in the Battle of Normandy, Northern France, and Rhineland until his discharge on November 14, 1945. He also served in the Korean War. He was a member of the American Legion and a life-member of the VFW where he served as the special service officer.

On November 12, 1950, he married Carol Erstad and they have two children, Robert and Debra. Roy worked as an auto mechanic for the family auto business, C.J. Amdahl & Sons. He spent a few months as a mechanic at the Thule Air Force Base in Greenland and then returned to the Amdahl garage in Pipestone. He later worked for the City of Pipestone. After he retired, he worked part-time at the Pipestone Country Club. In December, 2009, Roy became a resident of the Good Samaritan Communities of Pipestone where he died on Tuesday, August 9, 2011, at the age of 88 years, ten months and nine days.

Roy was a member of First Lutheran Church in Pipestone where he helped with many fundraisers, served as an usher, and volunteered for other projects. He was a volunteer driver for the Senior Citizens, Pipestone County Family Services and the Pipestone Veterans Program. He also volunteered to deliver meals for Meals on Wheels. Roy took an interest in the Senior Center activities, playing pool with his buddies or helping out with whatever needed to be done in the center and the kitchen. In 1996, he was named “Pipestone County’s Outstanding Senior Citizen King”. Roy had many hobbies, including bowling, playing pool, reading, working on crossword puzzles, and watching the Twins and Vikings play. He loved to golf and was a member of the Pipestone Country Club. He played in league and in tournaments and won several trophies. Roy and Carol participated in local events such as the annual Christmas lighting contest and won top honors several times.

He is lovingly remembered by his wife, Carol Amdahl of Pipestone, Minnesota; his son, Robert Amdahl and his wife Becky of Albuquerque, New Mexico; his daughter, Debra Brunken and her husband Terry of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; two granddaughters, Michael Mandy Mata and her husband Eddie and Sammi Ann Amdahl, all of Albuquerque, New Mexico; and five great-grandchildren, Abigayle, Thaddeus, Makayla, Mia and Jespah; his sister-in-law, Alice Amdahl of Pipestone, Minnesota; his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Don and Yvonne Erstad of Alexandria, Minnesota; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Merle; his twin brother, Ray and his wife Mary; and his brother, Virgil and his wife Blanche.