Orville "Beno" Kofstad

A Mass of Christian Burial for Orville "Beno" Kofstad of Warroad, MN, will be held on Thursday, May 25th at 1:00 PM at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Warroad.  A visitation will be held on Wednesday from 3-4 PM at the Warroad Senior Living Center Chapel.  Interment will be at the St. Mary's Cemetery in Warroad.  Military Honors by the Warroad American Legion.

Beno passed away on Saturday, May 20, 2017 at the age of 88.

Orville “Beno” Kofstad was born on June 19,1928 in Warroad, MN to Albin and Dorothy(Marshall) Kofstad.  He joined the Merchant Marine in WWII and served in the Pacific Theater from 1944 to 1945, returning to Warroad to graduate with the class of 1948.  While in high school, Beno played three sports; football, hockey and track.  He was selected as an All-State defenseman at the 1948 state hockey tournament.  Beno’s passions were hunting, particularly deer hunting and anything hockey, including many years as hockey referee at the high school, college level and many Warroad Lakers games.  While living in Litchfield, MN, Beno along with three other men began a hockey program that is still thriving today.

On Feb 16, 1956, Beno married Thais (Peterson) in Roseau.  In 1965, they moved to Litchfield, MN where Beno worked for Jennie-O-Foods managing a turkey farm until retiring in 1990.  Following their retirement, they owned and operated the CanAm Houseboat business for 10 years in Morson, Ontario.  Their love of travel took Beno and Thais on many cruises and travels throughout the country.  During their marriage, they were active in their children and grandchildren’s lives watching and cheering them on in many sport activities and musical events.  Beno will be remembered for being a loving family man and a kind-hearted friend to all he met, always with a twinkle in his eye and a welcoming bear hug.  He was an active member of the Warroad American Legion and VFW during which time he participated in many Memorial Day Parades and military funerals as a color guard.

Beno is survived by children, Jerry (Sue) Frolander of Pelham, AL., Diane (John) Klersy of Monroe City MO., Sharon (John) Spies of Prior Lake, MN., David (Caroline) Kofstad of Trophy Club, TX.; ten grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren; sisters Elvia Malles of Warroad MN and Janet Prosser of Minneapolis MN.

Beno is preceded in death by; his parents, wife Thais, brothers Dewey and Duane. 

Pallbearers will be John W. Spies, Joseph Salzer, John Kofstad, Warren Nau, Ryan Brown and John Klersy.

The Kofstad family wishes to extend our sincere thanks to Warroad Senior Center for their compassionate care towards our family.

Memorials to the Warroad American Legion and VFW and the Litchfield Youth Hockey Association are suggested in lieu of flowers.

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