Truman A. Kveen

A Funeral Service for Truman A. Kveen of Roseau, MN will be held on Monday, October 14, 2024 at 2:00PM at Lighthouse Church in Roseau, MN. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will take place at Norland Cemetery in Salol.

Truman Albert Kveen was born on March 31, 1942, to George Louis Kveen and Clara (Smedsmo) Kveen at Chilgrin’s Maternity Hospital East of Roseau. Truman was welcomed to the family dairy farm in Spruce township by sisters Herdis (eight years), Lois (seven years), Carol (five years) and brother Leonard (nearly three years). His sister Marlys arrived seven years later. He was baptized, confirmed and the family regularly attended Sunday School and Services at Moe Lutheran Free Church in Roseau.

Truman grew up watching as hay was stacked and grain was thrashed through threshing machines. They farmed with a team of horses and eventually an Allis-Chalmers WC tractor and a small Case combine. They eventually got a John Deere tractor and square baler and of course no matter what, they had to milk cows twice a day. He was about three years old when their home got electricity, and five when they got running water.

Truman attended first grade in School District #49 West in 1948-49 (the last year this district was in operation) and grades two through twelve in Roseau School District #682, graduating in 1961. He participated in Future Farmers of America (FFA), which included multiple trips to Minneapolis.

Truman worked on the family farm with his brother Leonard until 1966. He took great pride in the cattle they raised. Willhelm Johnson, his dad’s cousin, helped part time with farm work, building and repairs. Truman learned the basics of mechanics and building from Willy. In 1965, Truman took all the mechanical knowledge he had learned and soon applied it to airplanes. He became a certified Airframe and Powerplant (A & P) mechanic and graduated from Airplane Mechanics School in Thief River Falls. Along with learning how to work on airplanes, he learned how to fly them and even owned a 1946 Funk Model B until it was destroyed in a windstorm. In 1967 he started working for Northwest Airlines as an aircraft mechanic in Anchorage, Alaska.

In 1968, Truman married Joyce Johnson, daughter of C. Arthur and Eveline Johnson of California (formerly of Spruce Township). They were blessed with four children: Tammy in 1970, Audra in 1971, Charles in 1973 and Rebekah in 1981. In 1986, they divorced. Joyce returned to California and eventually remarried. Truman and the children continued to live in Anchorage until 1988, when he was transferred by Northwest Airlines to Bloomington, MN. During his years in Bloomington, he attended Emmaus Free Lutheran Church but also faithfully supported the Free Lutheran Church of Roseau (now Lighthouse Church). During those years he owned a cabin at Sherwood Forest in Brainerd where he spent much of his time off. He retired around 2002 and moved back to the Roseau area. He settled on his place north of Salol, where he first built a cook shanty, then his house. Truman served as a substitute bus driver as his retirement job.

Deer hunting was one of the highlights of the year for Truman, not only in pursuit of the “big buck,” but especially spending time with his buddies Jerry Swenson, Winton Winner, and the Venas brothers.

Truman was very active within the Association of Free Lutheran Congregations (AFLC). He was an active member of the Roseau Pioneer Farm and Village and served as treasurer for many years. He also helped out at Galilee Bible Camp at Lake Bronson many summers. He traveled extensively across the United States on his own as well as on bus trips, many with his sister, Lois. He and Lois also traveled back to Norway, and visited family.

Truman loved and served his God and his family faithfully.

Truman Kveen is survived by his sister, Lois Losse; brother-in-law, Christer Svensson; sister-in-law Carol Kveen; children, Tammy Kveen, Audra (Scott) Mindrum, Charles Kveen and Rebekah Kveen; nieces and nephews, Mylan (Carol) Losse, Randall (Toni) Losse, Franklin (Cheri) Losse, Georgia (Danny) Drown, Melanie (Jim) Gast, Melissa (Mike) Doerksen, Cathy Sawatsky, Max Svensson, Cindy (Hisa) Kveen, Graig (Maria) Kveen, Belinda (David) Kveen, Elaine (Dave) Willis, Kim (Teresa) Hash, Joel (Valerie) Hash; cousins Jim Smedsmo, Dennis (Barb) Smedsmo, Annette (Ken) Mogell, Alma Stotts, Anita (Ray) Dunham and Melva Hash; and grandchildren Victor, Vincent, and Cordelia Mindrum, as well as other “inherited” kids.

Truman was preceded in death by his parents, George and Clara (Smedsmo) Kveen; siblings Herdis Hash, Carol (Frank) Bouma, Leonard Kveen and Marlys Svensson; brother-in-law Roy Losse; cousins Einer Bakken, Torris Bakken, Sonja Heyen, Thelma Olson, Sadie (Marlin) Dunham, and nephews Vernon Losse and Paul Hash.

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