Palmer Vaadeland

PALMER EDGAR VAADELAND April 24th, 1926 - May 4th, 2019                   Palmer Edgar Vaadeland, age 93, of Park Rapids, Minnesota, a life-long resident of Hubbard County, passed away peacefully at 7:22 AM (unofficially) on Saturday morning of May 4th, 2019, at home in Park Rapids, Minnesota. As were his wishes, he had his son Haakon by his side, as he entered Heaven's glory and was wonderfully received in love, by his precious Savior Jesus Christ, along with all the other saints in glory who had preceded him!                 Palmer was born at home on the family farm (The Rudd Farm that had running water in both the house & barn) in Henrietta Township in Hubbard County approximately 7 miles Southeast of Park Rapids to Olaf Vaadeland & Emma Vaadeland (Lima) on Saturday, April 24th, 1926. (The family had the help of a local Native American Indian as the Mid-wife).                  Because Palmer's family "rented" their family farms, he would move & live at 5 different farms (Rudd Farm-1923-26, Hewitt Farm-1927-28, Fitch Farm-1929-32, Labarn Farm-1932-34, & finally to the Kern Farm-March 10th, 1938, which they bought (320 acres), which became the Vaadeland Farm-4 miles west of Park Rapids on Hwy. #34, where he lived till 2019- enjoying 81 years of happiness and contentment.                 During this time in his youth, Palmer attended and was educated at the following schools. Park Rapids (1st grade), Nevis (2nd grade), Park Rapids (3rd-5th grade), District # 7 School 3 1/2 miles west of Park Rapids (6th-8th grade), & Park Rapids High School (9th grade). His last 3 years of high school were spent living with Uncle Otto & Aunt Martha Aaserud & their 9 children, where he became number 10, at Mayville High School in Mayville, North Dakota. He graduated from Mayville High School in the class of 1945.                 Although Palmer did not really enjoy school, he would spend many more years of continuing education at the following institutions. Northwestern Bible College(Minneapolis, MN), Hamline University (Minneapolis, MN), Lutheran Brethren Bible School (Fergus Falls, MN), Concordia College (Moorhead, MN) & finally Lutheran Brethren Seminary (Fergus Falls, MN).                 Palmer spent much of his early adult life, trying to search for, what did God want him to do with his life. In the fall of 1946, although just like his Mother (Emma), he could not remember a day, he didn't want to live for Jesus. Palmer met Jesus Christ in a personal way, on a Saturday evening, during a school mission conference rally at the Lutheran Brethren Bible School in Fergus Falls, MN (His life would never be the same because now He had Jesus in his heart!).                  After graduating from the Seminary in the spring of 1959, he and Reverend Alvin Magnuson had begun an Evangelistic Ministry in 1955. For the next 60 years, Palmer would devote his life to Evangelistic ministry. He would travel in all 50 states of the United States. He would travel to almost all of the Canadian Provinces. He would travel on 4 separate occasions to his Father's & Mother's homeland of Norway. He also traveled to the country of England as well.                 During the years between 1975-2015, Palmer was joined in his Evangelistic travels, by his son Haakon Pedar Vaadeland, who he legally adopted in 1980. Palmer was blessed in marriage late in life, as he married Cheryl Bridget Anderson and they would have one special daughter, on May 19th, 1985, Emma Rigina. He would live to see his special daughter marry, (Steve Swenson) and also enjoy 5 beautiful grandchildren.                 In spite of all of Palmer's travels (estimated at over 2 million miles), he was very active in the Park Rapids community as well. He served on the Hubbard county fair board & was also Poultry Superintendent for over 50 years. He was a member of Calvary Lutheran Church in Park Rapids for over 50 years. In later years, he joined & enjoyed the fellowship at Faithbridge Church in Park Rapids. He was a substitute teacher in the Park Rapids area for over 30 years. He raised exotic show chickens all of his 93 years of life! He was an avid home gardener all his life. Not least he began attending sporting events, basketball, football, baseball, softball, & volleyball since 1939. (80 years)                 Palmer is survived by his son, Haakon Pedar Vaadeland of Park Rapids, MN; his daughter, Emma Rigina (Steve) Swenson of Detroit Lakes, MN with grandson Logan Palmer, granddaughter Gracelynne Emma, granddaughter Frankie Eleanor, grandson Theodore William Larry, & grandson Taylor Steven.                 Palmer was preceded in death by his great-grandparents Jon Vaadeland & Rakel Norheim (Norway), grandparents Peder Adolof & Serina Vaadeland (Norway), Erik & Martha Lima (Norway), his parents Olaf Vaadeland & Emma E. Lima, numerous aunts & uncles in Norway & Canada, his brother Oscar Erik Lima Vaadeland & sister in law Phyllis Vaadeland (Wolff).                 Visitation will be held 7-9 PM Thursday, May 16, 2019 at the Jones-Pearson Funeral Home, Park Rapids, MN and will continue beginning one hour prior to the services at the church on Friday. Funeral services will be held 11 AM Friday, May 17th, (Syttende Mai-Norway's Independence Day), 2019 at the Faithbridge Church in Park Rapids with Pastor Ken Polley officiating. Jan Henderson will be the organist. Burial will be at Greenwood Cemetery at Park Rapids, MN. Following the service, a light Norwegian lunch will be served and hosted by the Faithbridge Church family with an opportunity for more reflection and conversations about this 93-year-old man.   To leave online condolences or to view the tribute video please visit www.jonespearson.com