Lewis Quam, 97, died on Monday, December 7, 2009 at the Thief River Care Center in Thief River Falls, MN.

Funeral services will be 11:00 AM, Saturday, December 12, 2009 at Ekelund Lutheran Church in rural Goodridge, MN with Rev. Bob Dahlen officiating. Burial will be in Rosendahl Cemetery, rural Goodridge, MN.

Visitation will be held 5-8 PM, Friday, December 11, 2009 at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls, MN with a Prayer Service at 7:00 PM. Visitation will also be held for one hour prior to the funeral on Saturday.

Lewis Edwin Quam was born on December 18, 1911 to Ole and Clara (Hoyum) Quam in Thief River Falls, MN. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. He grew up in the Goodridge area. He attended Lundwood Country School through the 8th grade. As a young man, he worked in logging camps for two years near Rapid River north of Fourtown, MN. He then went to work for farmers in Nielsville, MN for a couple of years and then to Blue Earth, MN.

He was united in marriage to his childhood sweetheart, (Lewis used to pull her pig tails in school) Dorothy Christine Bratland on March 2, 1933 in the parsonage in Thief River Falls, MN. They made their first home near Grygla, MN and rented the Owen farm. In 1940, they settled in Reiner Township near Goodridge and have lived there the rest of his life. He farmed and raised cattle all of those years. During the lean years, Lewis worked on the iron range in Minnesota, and from 1977 to 1981 at the Agassiz refuge.

He was on the Reiner Township Board; he was a member of the Rosendal Church and Ekelund Lutheran Church where he served on the councils. He could often be seen driving around the farm on his golf cart. In his early years he liked to hunt by horseback. He was a hard worker whose hands werent idle often. He enjoyed listening to the radio, especially Billy Graham, church services, and the grandchildrens sporting events. In the early years of his family, he made many Christmas presents for his children. He always told his family I love you and God bless you every time they left from visiting him. He also often said Thank God for all of the blessings. He avidly read his bible.

Lewis is survived by three children: Janyce (Marvin) Bakken, Goodridge, Gaylen Quam, Goodridge, Curtiss (Donna) Quam, Detroit Lakes, MN, 12 grandchildren: Jeff (Deonne) Bakken, Lori Jo (Bob) Jorgenson, Janelle (Gerald) Verbout, Tim (Karen) Bakken, Eldon (Lisa) Quam, Allison (Andy Bloedorn) Quam, Gary (Kacey) Quam, Tami (Darrin) Byklum, Tommie (Angela) Quam, Kurt (Jody) Quam, Karla Schlim, Donavon (Paula) Quam, 31 great grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Lewis was preceded in death by his wife of 74 years in 2007, parents, one infant daughter Donna Jean, 5 brothers, Oscar, Carl, Albert, Morris, and Walter, and two sisters, Myrtle Olson and Lila Krosch.

ORGANIST: Tanya Kotrba
SPECIAL MUSIC: Great Grandchildren: Jesus Loves Me
CONGREGATIONAL HYMNS: Jerusalem My Happy Home, How Great Thou Art
PALLBEARERS: Grandsons: Tom Quam, Kurt Quam, Donavon Quam, Tim Bakken, Jeff Bakken, Eldon Quam, Gary Quam
HONORARY PALLBEARERS: Granddaughters: Lori Jo Jorgenson, Janelle Verbout, Tami Byklum, Karla Schlim, Allison Quam