Douglas E. Syverson, 86, died Tuesday, February 22, 2011 at Thief River Care Center, Thief River Falls, MN.

Funeral service will be 2 PM, Sunday, February 27, 2011 at Johnson Funeral Service, Thief River Falls, MN, with Reverend Robert Dahlen officiating. Burial will follow at Landstad Cemetery, Pennington County, MN.

Visitation will be 1-2 PM at Johnson Funeral Service, Sunday.

Douglas Syverson was born on December 3, 1924 to Gilbert Oscar and Ida Matilda (Fevig) Syverson in Havre, Montana. The family moved to Middle River, MN in 1930 and then settled just east of Thief River Falls, MN in 1933. Douglas graduated from Lincoln High School in Thief River Falls in 1944. He entered the US Army in 1950, serving in South Korea as a welder. Upon his discharge in 1952, he returned to farm in Thief River Falls on land he purchased in Silverton Township, Pennington County. In addition to farming, he spent winters in Milwaukee, WI working at various production and welding jobs.

When his father passed away in 1957, Douglas and his mother moved to the iron range area of MN. He lived in Embarrass from 1957 to1970 and Tower from 1970 to 1992. His first love, however, was farming and he would arrange his vacation time to allow returning to Thief River Falls to help with planting and harvesting.

Douglas enjoyed all things mechanical. He wanted to how and why things worked. He was very inventive; building many homemade farm implements. He also enjoyed singing and playing the harmonica; entertaining the staff and his many friends at Valley Home.

Douglas was united in marriage to Jerolda Jay Western on October 7, 1961 in Milwaukee, WI. To this union, two children were born, Sharon and David.

Douglas worked for the Erie Mining company for 28 years, retiring in 1985. After retiring, he enjoyed traveling throughout the United States in his motorhome; spending summers in MN and winters in Texas and Florida. Douglas met many characters in his travels and enjoyed telling the stories of his adventures. In 1992, Douglas returned to Thief River Falls.

Douglas is survived by two children, Sharon Dulaney, TX and David Syverson, WI; 8 grandchildren; 1 brother, Garfield, Twin Valley, MN and special friend, Norma Heyn.

He was preceded in death by his wife; parents; brothers, Ralph, Rodney, and Harry, sisters-in-law Theresa, Marge, and Lorraine and companion Genevieve Lane.

ORGANIST: Laurel Johnson
SOLOIST: Deb Farris and Lois Anderson
SELECTIONS: Precious Lord Take My Hand & Amazing Grace
CASKETBEARERS: Gil Syverson, Garrett (Charlie) Panek, Larry Panek, Mark Panek, Darren Panek, Tim Panek, and Harry Farris