Alfred Atwood, 83
Alfred Atwood of Baudette, Minnesota passed away on September 6, 2011 at the LakeWood Care Center at the age of 83.
Alfred was born on April 15, 1928 in Wheaton, Minnesota to Florence (Brehm) and William Atwood. He grew up in Clemetson, Minnesota, and later attended school in Silver Creek and Spooner. Upon receiving his draft notice in 1953, Alfred served in the US Army for two years before being honorably discharged with rank of Corporal.
When he returned from the Army, Alfred went back to work with his brother-in-law, John O’Neil, in farming and spent decades as John O’Neil’s trusted “right hand-man.” Alfred could operate and repair any piece of equipment on the farm. John and Alfred supplemented farming with construction work, from moving houses to pile driving for docks and boathouses. Alfred threw hot rivets as part of the crew who installed the steel frame of the original Baudette Hospital. He enjoyed operating bulldozers hired out to the U.S. Forest Service during many a fire season. A particularly interesting winter was passed when he and John drilled for uranium for a private company on the Northwest Angle. In the 1960s, when John added beef cattle to the family farm, Alfred stepped up to tending calves and baled more hay then he ever wanted to see in a lifetime. Over the course of his life, the Rainy River became Alfred’s second home for summer and winter fishing. He’d grin and say, the older you got, the bigger the fish!
So many good friends and lasting memories went hand and hand with these experiences. Alfred was always upbeat with a ready smile and he never missed an opportunity to share a joke or make a person laugh. His generous spirit and kindness will not be forgotten. Family, friends and community are grateful to have shared his lifetime.
Alfred is survived by his niece, Sharron (Tony) Dunne of Renton, Washington; grand nephews and niece, John, Mike, Dan and Sarah, also of Washington. He is preceded in death by his parents; sister and brother-in-law, Annie and John O’Neil; sisters, May and Ruth; brother, Edward; and niece, Shirley Hansen.
A memorial service celebrating the life of Alfred Atwood will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 10 AM at the First Congregational Church in Baudette. Interment will be at the Elm Park Cemetery.
