Philip Victor Palmquist

Philip Victor Palmquist, age 88 years, 11 months, left this world to meet his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in Heaven on Dec. 3, 2002.
Funeral services were held Dec. 8 at Kost Ev. Free Church in rural North Branch. Interment was at Kost Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the Union Gospel Mission and to the Kost Ev. Free Church Missionary fund.
Philip lived a long, happy, successful life. Born January 24, 1914 in Duluth, the son of Victor and Lydia Palmquist, he graduated valedictorian from Denfeld High School and went on to get his Chemical Engineering Degree from the University of Minnesota.
He was employed by 3M Company as a research engineer for 43 years. He had great success as an inventor at 3M. He won many awards including becoming a member of the Carlton Society and was honored by the Academy Awards with an Oscar for outstanding technical achievement in 1968. He is most well known for his invention of ScotchliteÆ reflective material used in highway signs to make driving safer throughout the world.
Philip married his wife Ardell Knudsten in 1939 and they had five children, Joyce, Jim, David, Mary and Robert. Family life was important to Philip, taking the family on annual canoe trips in the Boundary waters wilderness, and skiing almost every Saturday during the winter. And like his mother and father did for him, he made the church the focal point of family life.
Upon retirement, Philip bought an 80 acre farm near Almelund. He thoroughly enjoyed the project of renovating the old farm house and barn and fancied himself as a farmer tending his football-sized vegetable garden. He also became active in the Kost Evangelical Free Church and found many new and wonderful friends in the community. He was a Christian inspiration for those who know him.
During his life, Philip had the opportunity to travel the far corners of the world (on family and business trips). But, his favorite places were (1) the Boundary Waters area in northern Minnesota and (2) Ardellís and Philís trip to Israel. During and after the trip to Israel he often talked about the significance of ìthe stone being rolled away ñ the tomb being empty.î Now, at last, Philip is with the risen Lord Jesus. Let us all praise the Lord with him.
Philip leaves to mourn: Ardell, his wife of 63 years; five children: Joyce and husband Ron Halverson, Shoreview, Minn., James and wife Beverly Markis, Minneapolis, Minn., David and wife Yuliya, Center City, Minn., Mary and husband Nathan Bixler, Albuquerque, New Mex., Robert and wife Pamela, Northfield, Minn.; ten grandchildren: Steve, Jonathan, Nancy, Peter, Ana-Maria, Rachel, Joel, Daniel, Alyssa, Lara; eight great-grandchildren: Sierra, Zachary, Talia, Bridget, Candace, Annika, Joshua, and Ingrid; and a host of good friends from the church and community.
Philip especially looked forward to meeting his mother again, whom he had not seen since she died when he was
2-1/2 years old. Throughout his life he credited his mother with leading the family to a spiritual church in Duluth and credited her prayers for her children to come to know the Lord. Philipís father Victor was very active in the Temple Baptist Church in Duluth and regularly spoke at the Union Gospel Mission.
Philip believed in the Word of God and read the scriptures every night in devotions and prayer. He knew he was a born again Christian and could tell you exactly where Godís promises were found in the Bible. As he grew old and weak he was content to remain in his bed at the farm meditating and sometimes singing the hymn ìCounty you Blessing.î God truly blessed Philipís life.
ìYour loved one will always be with us, for those who knew him could never forget his kindness, his wisdom, and his strong presence on this earth.î

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