Laurence D. Battles

A Memorial service for Laurence D. Battles of Roosevelt, MN will be held on Friday, July 9, 2021 at 11:00 AM at the Roosevelt American Legion. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Interment will take place at Silent City Cemetery in Roosevelt, MN. He passed away June 24, 2021 at the Sanford Medical Center in Bemidji at the age of 95. 

                Laurence was born May 20, 1926 in Clear River Township to Arthur H and Mary E (Fish) Battles. He was the sixth of 12 children. Moving to Ross, MN and back to Clear River where they settled north of Roosevelt about 1929. Laurence attended school at the South 955 (Hexum School) and graduated from Williams High in 1940.

                In January 1945 he was drafted into the military with basic training at the Great Lakes Naval Station. Then onto school at the Naval Pier in Chicago, IL.

                He was assigned to the USS Pierce APA 50 shipping out from San Francisco to the Philippines, USS PC 824 stationed off the Washington coast and the USS Indiana BB 58 which was being decommissioned out of Seattle, WA. He was discharged July 19th 1946 in Minneapolis, MN.

                Returning to the Roosevelt area he farmed in the summer and logged in the winter. He spent the next few years between Minnesota and Northwestern Oregon. He logged with his brother Thayer, worked at a plywood mill and various logging camps. He married in 1955 and had 3 children; Elizabeth Ann, Janelle Elaine and Lynn Margaret. The family moved back to settle in Roosevelt in 1965.

                On November 24, 1971 he married Betty R Walker. He continued working for Marvin Windows after his return and in 1977 formulated a research and development department and continued as the R&D manager until his retirement in 1991. During this time he also farmed raising cattle and growing crops. After retiring from Marvin’s, he worked at Zipple Bay State Park as a carpenter and handyman. Laurence loved working a few days a week at Zipple Bay. It was one of his favorite state parks.

                Laurence loved nature, reading, camping, traveling to different State and National Parks, classic country music, working in his shop, gardening, especially tending his rose garden. He had a large variety of roses some passed down from generations, planting trees, and his family.

                Laurence Dale Battles passed away on Thursday, June 24, 2021 at the age of 95.

                Laurence is survived by his wife of 49 years Betty R Battles; his 3 children Elizabeth (Dave Iverson) of Bagley, MN, Janelle Kjensmo of Kingsland, GA, and Lynn (Andrew) Trimble of Eatonville, WA; step-children Peggy (Zalo) Bernard, Penny (Stan) Zook, Wendall Walker, Lila Ward Zook; sister Mary Friesner and brother David (Norma) Battles; grandchildren Derek Stomberg, Brent (Kelly) Stomberg, Aaron (Arica) Kirby, Brianne (Derek) Eck, Ian Mosher, Shawn Kjensmo, Darian McGregor, Darby Trimble, Delainy Trimble and Greyson Trimble; 9 great grandchildren and numerous step grandchildren & great grandchildren.

               He is preceded in death by his parents Arthur & Mary Battles, brothers Thayer, Howard and Harvey Battles; sisters Evangeline Lewis, Daisy Bjork, Aleta Battles, 3 infant siblings, and step son Willis Walker.

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