Korydon Chervestad, 79, of Oklee, MN passed away on Wednesday, October 16, 2024 at his residence.
Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, October 23, 2024 at Oak Park Lutheran Church, rural Oklee, MN with Pastor Jeffery Merseth officiating. Burial will be held at Oak Park Lutheran Church Cemetery.
A visitation will be held on Tuesday, October 22, 2024 at Oak Park Lutheran Church, rural Oklee, MN from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM with a prayer service at 7:00 PM. Visitation will also be held one hour prior to the service on Wednesday.
Korydon Chervestad was born on June 1, 1945 to Orlando and Helen (Evenson) Chervestad in Section 15, Deer Park Township. He was baptized on September 2, 1945 and confirmed in 1960 at Oak Park Lutheran Church. Korydon attended PleasantView Country School located in Section 8 of Deer Park Township through 8th grade and then attended Oklee Public School. He graduated with the class of 1963.
Korydon joined the North Dakota National Guard in 1965 and served until 1972. Korydon married Carol Sorenson on April 5, 1969 at Zion Lutheran Church in Oklee, MN. To this union four children were born, Aaron, Abigail, Angela, and Adeline. The couple made their home on the family farm in Section 15, Deer Park Township.
Korydon lived his life as a true entrepreneur. He was a dairy, grain, and a beef cattle farmer. He operated a custom combining operation traveling from Oklahoma to North Dakota from 1982 – 1984. In 1979 until 1986, he operated a fresh carrot packaging factory with up to 25 employees at his home farmstead. In 1986, with the help of his family, he transformed the operation into a salvage grocery business. The business expanded from the home farmstead to stores in Trail, Warroad, and St. Hilaire. The business closed in 1993 due to supply issues. In the early 90’s, he along with his family, owned and operated a buffalo burger food truck along. Korydon along with his son Aaron continued farming which included commercial hay production and trucking.
Korydon was a life-long member of Oak Park Lutheran Church and served the church in many capacities. He was a life-long member of Minnesota Farmers Union and served as the president of the Pennington County Farmers Union for 45+ years. He was also a member and served on the board of directors of the Oklee Farmers Co-op Elevator and Setesdalslaget of America. He was a member of the Plummer American Legion Post 623 and Thief River Falls Eagles #2368. He was a proud member of the Pennington County DFL Party.
He had a lifelong passion for helping others. He generously put everyone before himself.
In his later years, Korydon enjoyed buying and selling items such as classic cars, farm equipment, etc. He had numerous quirky quotes he would voluntarily share with everyone and anyone. Korydon and Carol enjoyed attending their grandchildren’s numerous activities. His family, especially his grandchildren, meant the world to him. As his grandchildren would say “He always made a friend everywhere he went”.
Korydon is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Carol of Oklee; children, Aaron (Jill) Chervestad of Oklee, Abigail (Thomas) Stueness of Gary, and Angela (Shannon) Lundeen of Oklee; grandchildren, Owen and Alexa Chervestad, Mariah, Morgan, and Madison Stueness, and Nolan and Parker Lundeen; sister, Lana (Brad) Nelson; special foster “son”, Danny Nelson; sisters-in-law, Bernice Klenk, Rose Delage, and Laura Pederson; several nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and friends.
Korydon is preceded in death by his daughter, Adeline; parents, Orlando and Helen; in-laws, Ralph and Helen Sorenson; sister-in-law, Doris Hanson; brothers-in-law, Marlen trfnews.i234.me, Lavern Klenk, Elmer Hanson, Harvey Delage, and Duane Pederson; several nieces, nephews, and other relatives.
# Korydon Chervestad, #