Thief River Falls – Arthur Stordahl, Arthur Stordahl, 101 died on Thursday, Jan. 6, 2011 at Thief River Care Center in Thief River Falls.
Funeral services were held Monday, Jan. 10 at Zion Lutheran Church, Thief River Falls, with Pastor Ale Tulu officiating. Casket bearers included Wayne Lunsetter, Howard Lunsetter, Bruce Lunsetter, Ray Vatnsdal, Jim Stordahl and Randy McMillin. Honorary casket bearers include Walter Lunsetter, Roy and Emma Anderson and Ardy Vatnsdal.
Arthur Vernon Stordahl, the son of Louis and Luella Johnson Stordahl was born Nov. 9, 1909 in Rollis Township, Gatzke. He was baptized and confirmed at the Lutheran Church in Gatzke. He attended the rural school at Gatzke through eighth grade and then attended Lincoln High School, Thief River Falls and transferred to Northwest School of Agriculture in Crookston, graduating in 1927.
Art was interested in farming, but trucking was his desire and he began hauling livestock in used trucks and homemade trailers from Gatzke, Middle River and local areas to West Fargo and So. St. Paul. His trucking business grew and in 1937 he moved to Roseau Minnesota. A trucking business started in Gatzke grew to become one of the largest common carrier truck lines in Northwestern Minnesota. Art Stordahl was known for model B61 Mack Tractors and Fruehauf trailers and Chevrolet 1½ ton trucks. His brother Clayton Stordahl, his number one employee for 37 years, passed away Oct. 6, 2000.
Art married Ina Olson in Roseau Minnesota December 25, 1941 and she became his secretary and accountant for the Stordahl Truck Lines Inc. for 45 years.
In 1950, Art and Ina moved to Thief River Falls and Clayton Stordahl continued managing the Roseau area business. He continued the freight interchange with Penner International of Steinbach Manitoba, until the sale of the truck lines in 1982.
During the truck line operations, Art had hundreds of employees; many still live in this area and in St. Paul Minnesota.
Stordahl Truck Lines, Inc. was joined by Ronald Stordahl and Robert Stordahl as vice presidents and Ina Stordahl as Secretary-Treasurer.
Art loved outdoor activities, such as baseball, hockey, flying, boating and fishing. Ina and Art hand planted many trees and shrubs in the late 1960s as can be seen on South Highway 32 property which was the site of Stordahl Truck Lines Inc.
Art was an accomplished accordionist, and with his wife, provided many musical performances for friends at retirement homes as well as special programs in Northern Minnesota and northwest Ontario, where they owned a cabin near Nestor Falls, Ontario, Canada.
Art and Ina were members of the Moe Lutheran Church in Roseau for nine years, and Zion Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls for 60 years.
Art had a special interest in his boyhood church, the United Lutheran Church of Gatzke and in the Moose River Cemetery of Gatzke, for which he provided the funds for extensive improvements of both. Art also had a great interest in the Four Seasons Center of Roseau and the Heritage Center of Thief River Falls.
He is survived by his wife, Ina Stordahl of Thief River Falls; sons: Ronald Stordahl of Thief River Falls, Robert Stordahl and wife Sandra, of Austin, Texas, and granddaughter Kelsey (Stordahl) Kelly of Mouldon, Texas; grandson Lee Stordahl of Seattle, Wash.;
five great-granddaughters: Kaycie, Kyndahl, Karlee, Kerina and Kamryn; daughters of Kelsey and Erin Kelly; a stepsister, Lila Ruud of Gatzke; as well as several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister Lois Johnson, and brother Clayton Stordahl.
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