John Roseland, 87, of Newfolden, MN, went to his heavenly home on Saturday, November 26, 2016. He died peacefully, with his loving wife and eldest daughter by his side.

Funeral service will be held on Saturday, December 3, 2016 at 10:30 AM in the Evangelical Free Church in Newfolden with Reverend Gary Barrett Officiating. Burial will be held at Bethlehem Cemetery, New Solum Township, Marshall County, MN.

Visitation will be held on Friday, 5 – 8 PM with a 7 PM prayer service at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls and also one hour prior to the service on Saturday.

Military Honors: Newfolden American Legion Post and Minnesota National Guard Honor Guard

John Robert Roseland was born on July 4, 1929, the son of Arne and Selma (Sjoquist) Roseland. His father died when he was only seven years old. At the young age of 11, he started working for his room and board. He worked at many farms around the Newfolden, Warren and Oslo area. He attended Wildwood Country School through 8 th grade and later received his GED through Newfolden High School. He went to North Star Bible College in Warren, MN for two winters, where he wrote one of his favorite songs to sing Harbor Lights .

In October 1951, John was drafted into the United States Army. He served in the Korean War as Military Police supervising 500 prisoners of war until the conflict ended in 1953. He took many color slides during his time in South Korea, sharing with others over the years. He re-enlisted in 1955 and served until 1958 in the Medical Corps, serving in Junction City, Kansas and Chicago.

On October 7, 1956, John was united in marriage to Darlene Klopp at Alma Lutheran Church of rural Argyle, MN. After his discharge from the service they purchased a farm south of Newfolden, MN across the road from his grandparent's homestead. They had four children, Robin, Rhonda, Rolland and Rochelle. In the early 60s he purchased the land on which he was born, and he built a new home there in 1980. The large home became the gathering place for family occasions and a bed and breakfast for those staying over. John and Darlene celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in September, hosted by their family.

John farmed his land and raised some livestock. He was a self-taught carpenter, starting at age 11, making a garden gate. He went on to build several homes, as well as furniture for his family. He also worked at Detroiter Homes, Prichard Brothers Construction and Arctic Cat.

John enjoyed travel and took his family on road trips to Florida and Alaska and other places of interest. In later years, John and Darlene took many trips to Colorado, California, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, Alaska and Canada visiting family and sights along the way.

Following his retirement, he spent the next 18 summers donating his time to the Bethlehem of New Solum Lutheran Church, which was founded by his ancestors, and where he was baptized and where he attended in his youth. He mowed the lawn, painted the church, and installed a brick entrance to the cemetery, built a picnic shelter, lawn shed, and bathrooms and made various repairs including the raising and leveling of numerous old cemetery stones.

In 1960, John and Darlene became members of the Evangelical Free Church of Newfolden, MN. His Christian faith was very important to him and he lived that faith his entire life. In earlier years, he was a member of the Lifeline Center and Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship.

John was hospitalized on October 12, 2016 at Sanford Medical Center-TRF. He then moved to Oakland Park Communities, Thief River Falls, MN where his friend Dale Stark (wife Marian) lived just across the hall. Following a Stage IV cancer diagnosis on November 12, 2016, he received end-of-life care at the nursing home, assisted by Hospice Red River Valley.

John will be remembered and missed by many. He loved to visit, play his guitar and harp, and sing gospel songs, sometimes accompanied by his son. He had many stories from the past, jokes to tell, and funny faces for the grandkids. He enjoyed threshing bees and church suppers. He was always kind and generous to others.

Survivors include his loving wife Darlene of Newfolden, MN; daughter Robin (Larry) Langevin of Thief River Falls, MN; daughter Rhonda Fincher of Rogers, AR; son Rolland (Mary) Roseland of Marshall, MN; and son-in-law Randy Pederson of Thief River Falls/Minneapolis; 15 grandchildren/10 great-grandchildren: Shane (Stacy) Pederson, Tyler and Collin of Baxter, MN; Carisa (Jeff) Novak, Jacey, Jaclyn, Wyatt and Wayde of Viking, MN; Matt Langevin and Miranda Langevin of Minneapolis, MN; Marcus Langevin of Morris, MN; Keegan (Greg) Ball of Lowell, AR; Rylee Fincher and Brennan Fincher of Rogers, AR; Caleb (Rebecca) Roseland and Joseph of Marshall, MN; Hannah (Alex) MacArthur, Autumn and Pippa of Spring Hill, TN; Elizabeth Roseland of Mankato, MN; Katherine Roseland of Willmar, MN; Roshan Pederson (Matt Dehne) and Abram of Thief River Falls, MN; Raina Pederson of Holdrege, NE; and Regan Pederson of Bemidji, MN. Sister Pauline Bondy of Grand Forks, ND; brother Paul Roseland (Diann Sewald) of Anchorage, AK/Green Valley, AZ; sisters-in-law JoAnn Weekley of Lafayette, IN; Jean (Leonard) Mathews of Tallahassee, FL; Bonnye (Richard) Renz of Hialeah, FL; Karen Mumm (Ken Hanson) of Benson, MN; and Patti Klopp (Rick Hruby) of Thief River Falls, MN; and brother-in-law Dennis (Debbie) Klopp of Karlstad, MN; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

He is preceded in death by daughter Rochelle Pederson (1964-1996); grandson Kendrick Fincher (1982-1995); parents Arne and Selma Roseland, sister Allie Waldron, brothers Lloyd and Jerome Roseland; and parents-in-law Ernest and Agnes Klopp.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Evangelical Free Church Bible Camp Fund, Bethlehem of New Solum Cemetery Fund or Kendrick Fincher Hydration for Life Foundation.