Allen A. Walberg

Allen Alfred Walberg, the son of Alfred and Inga (Pederson) Walberg, was born June 18, 1922 at Greeley, Minnesota. The 14th and youngest child born into the Walberg family, Allen grew up on the family farm with his 11 brothers and three sisters. He attended Greeley School through the 8th grade.
He worked on the Walberg farm until enlisting in the United States Navy in 1942. While serving in the Navy, Allen was hospitalized with appendicitis, which took him off his ship and into a Naval Hospital. While he was recuperating on shore, his ship was torpedoed and sunk, taking the lives of many of his friends and fellow crew members. He served most of his military time deployed in the Atlantic aboard the USS Charles M. Hall, the USS William Penn, and the USS James Sullivan. Receiving his honorable discharge near the end of World War II, he was released from duty in January of 1946.
Allen was united in marriage to Betty Jane Rydberg on March 4, 1951 in Sandstone, MN. In March of 1954, Bettyís daughters from her previous marriage, Bonnie Jo and Beth Jean, welcomed their sister, Barbara Jo Allen, into their family. A year later they celebrated the birth of another sister, Belinda Jaye.
When Allen returned to Minnesota after serving in the Navy, he worked for D.W. Carlson, an electrical contractor in Mora, MN who did electrical work in Montana. When he returned from Montana, he was employed by Collins Electric. At that time he joined the EBEW No. 292 Electrical Union. He worked for Collins for 10 years before becoming employed by Egan McKay Electric of Golden Valley, MN. He later owned his own business, Walberg Electric, located in Rush City, MN.
Allen loved hunting and fishing trips with his friends, and enjoyed playing hockey and baseball. An active member of the VFW and the American Legion, he was instrumental in designing and constructing the Veteranís Memorial located on the lawn of the Pine County Courthouse in Pine City. He enjoyed playing cards, going to coffee with his friends, and family events that were celebrated at the lake. He was a 32 Degree Mason. Allen and Betty enjoyed traveling, and celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary in Hawaii provided them with many, many happy memories.
Near the end of August this year, Allen became a resident of Green Acres Country Care Center in North Branch, MN. He died Oct. 8, 2003 at Fairview Lakes Regional Medical Center in Wyoming, MN at the age of 81 years. He is survived by his daughters and sons-in-law: Bonnie & Karl Vahle, Jenks, OK, Beth Gross and Barbara & Rick Gross, all of Pine City, Belinda & Randal Gross, Mora, MN; 13 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law: Millie Walberg, Roseville, MN, Laura Walberg, Olivia, MN, Evelyn Walberg, Braham, MN, and Charolette Walberg, Rush City, brothers-in-law: Art OíGrady, Richfield, MN and Wilmer Larson, Pine City; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Buddy & Jeanie Rydberg, John Kozisek, and Peggy Rydberg, all of Pine City; many nieces, nephews, and friends. Allen was preceded in death by his wife, Betty; his sisters Alaide OíGrady, Jean Larson, and Agnes Nelson; and his brothers Leslie, Lloyd, Harold, Roy, Lester, Arnold, Stanley, Earl, Marvin, and Paul Walberg.
Funeral services were at 2 p.m. Sat., Oct. 11, 2003 at the Swanson Funeral Chapel in Pine City with Pastor Lyn Sahr officiating. Honorary casket bearers were Robert Blazek, Wilmer Larson, Bernard Bjorkland, Francis Gross, Gavin Gross, and Joseph Garrison. Casket bearers were Caleb Christenson, Aaron Gross, Jared Christenson, Randall Gross, Jr., Dustin Gross, and Christopher Gross. Interment was at the Birchwood Cemetery in Pine City. Military Honors were by the Minnesota National Guard, Pine City, Novak-Milliren VFW Post #4258, Pine City, and the Heath-Perkins American Legion Post #51, Pine City.

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