Middle River – Larry Lloyd Dahl, age 88, of Middle River, passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 17, 2026, at Sanford Medical Center in Fargo, ND.
Larry was born on March 17, 1938, on the family farm, to Emil and Pauline (Wolden) Dahl. Larry grew up on the family farm near Gatzke. He was baptized, confirmed, and was a life-long member of United Lutheran Church in Gatzke. Larry attended country school through the 8th grade, graduating from Middle River High School with the Class of 1956. He lettered on the Varsity Football team in high school. Larry worked in Minneapolis for a year following high school.
Larry married Erma Brekkestran on December 26, 1959 at United Lutheran Church in Gatzke. Larry and Erma had five children – Lou Ann, Lynn, Donavon, Lorrie, and Tammie. Together, they raised their children on the family farm near Gatzke.
Early on in his farming career, Larry farmed the family farmland with his brothers, Arvin and Orlan. Later, he purchased his own farm just a mile from the homeplace. In 1981, Donavon joined his dad in the family farm business. They continued to farm together throughout Larry’s life, spending most days especially in the spring, summer, and fall, outside in the field and on the tractors. He was really dedicated to his farm, and he was still actively farming through this spring planting season.
Larry taught us that shopping and purchasing goods locally was important for a thriving community. He purchased what he could locally in Grygla, Gatzke, and Middle River. Larry served as clerk on the Rollis Township Board for over 40 years.
Larry taught his children and grandchildren how to hunt, fish, and garden. He enjoyed the annual deer camp at the farm. For decades of fishing seasons, Larry and Erma fished and camped at Buffalo Bay, Manitoba. This is where Larry taught his grandchildren how to fish. He also enjoyed playing cards, visiting and playing bingo at the Legion, and traveling throughout the United States, visiting 48 States over his lifetime.
When Larry wasn’t working in the field, he enjoyed finding old Minneapolis Moline tractors, fixing them up, and adding them to his collection of 11 Minneapolis Moline tractors. He loved tractors, especially Minneapolis Molines.
Larry is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Erma of Middle River; children, Lou Ann Dahl of Karlstad, Donavon (Laura) Dahl of Middle River, Lorrie (Darrin) Peterson of Warroad, and Tammie (Russ) Hetland of Warroad; grandchildren, Hilary (Nick) Gram, Morgan (Alan) Ness, Mike (Stephanie) Peterson, Jacquelyn Peterson, Alan (Mandy Boyle) Peterson, Amy (Jim) Grover, Tammy (Xue Pha) Hetland, Brady (Jorie Shaugabay) Hetland; great-grandchildren, Hazel, Hank, and Ihla Gram, Holland, Hutton, and Sage Ness, Oliver and Philip Streiff and Juliette Jones; brothers-in law, Duane Lian, Galen (Sharon) Brekkestran, Dwight (Pat) Brekkestran; sisters-in-law, Marvel Dahl, Arlette (Laurel) Majer, Bonnie (Ron) Ward, Lynnell Talmage, and Dora Brekkestran.
Larry is preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Lynn Marie Dahl; sisters, Anna Westberg, Esther Schmidt, Cora Massof, Mavis Roppe, and Janet Lian; brothers, Elmer Dahl, Arvin Dahl, and Orlan Dahl; brothers-in-law, Melroy Brekkestran, Earl Brekkestran, Wendell Brekkestran, and Arvin Brekkestran.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 22, 2026, at United Lutheran Church in Gatzke.
Visitation was held after 5 p.m. on Thursday, May 22, 2026, at Collins Funeral Chapel in Middle River, with a prayer service at 7 p.m. Visitation was also held one hour prior to services at the church.
Interment services were held at Moose River Cemetery of Gatzke following services.
Arrangements are with Collins Funeral Home of Middle River. An online guestbook is available at: www.collinsfunerals.com.
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