Erling Lundeen, 86, Spicer and formerly of this area, went home to be with his Father on Tuesday, Aug. 2, at Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar. His faith always showed him The Way and he followed it.
Memorial services were held Sunday, Aug. 7 at Faith Lutheran Church in Spicer. Interment was in the Faith Lutheran Columbarium. Military honors were provided by Robert Ihlang American Legion Post 537 of New London.
Erling LeRoy Lundeen was born Feb. 16, 1930, near Oklee,the son of Emil and Luella (Urdahl) Lundeen. He grew up in that area, attended District 52 School and graduated from Lincoln High School in 1947. He continued his education by attending Coyne Electrical College in Chicago for one year, and then returned home and worked for Larson Brothers Radio as a repair person. Erling joined the Air Force in 1950 and served during the Korean Conflict, returning home in 1954.
On Jan. 2, 1955, Erling was married to Melba G. Gustafson and they made their home in the Goodridge area. They farmed there for 13 years and during that time, Erling also attended Northland Junior College for two years and worked at Hartz Wholesale Warehouse. In 1968, he became the assistant director of Lutherdale Bible Camp in Elkhorn, Wis., and in 1976, Erling took the position of property manager at the Green Lake Bible Camp in Spicer. He held that position until his retirement in 1995.
In 1992, he and others took up the effort to rebuild and reopen Camp House in Brimson. Rebuilding took 10 years, but Camp House reopened in 2001, and Erling and Melba helped run the camp until 2013. Erling was very active in the ELCA at the local, state and national levels. He loved being with his family and friends, was a former member of the Willmar Gideons, the Spicer Lions and enjoyed fishing and the outdoors.
He is survived by his wife, Melba of Spicer; four children: Lana Ferry of Sturgeon Bay, Wis.; Kathy (Bill) Neil of Downs, Ill.; Karen (Ernie) Watson of Spicer; Mark (Judy) Lundeen of Spicer; and Maria Zanella (AFS student) from Italy. Also surviving are nine grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren, besides other relatives and friends.
Erling was preceded in death by his parents; and one brother, Merle Lundeen.
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