Services for Alden Spray
Thu, 09/13/2018 - 11:30am
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Alden Spray, 87, of Gonvick, Minnesota ended his long Parkinson’s/Cancer journey on September 8, 2018. He died at his home in Gonvick surrounded by his loving family.
Funeral services will be held on Sunday, September 23, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. at Samhold Lutheran Church in Gonvick, MN with the Reverend Kris Snyder officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the services at the church. Interment will be at the Samhold Lutheran Cemetery. The Cease Family Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements.
Alden was born on February 7, 1931, in McIntosh, MN, the son of Alden Vernon and Hilma Caroline (Hanson) Spray. His school years were spent in Warroad, Erskine, Thief River Falls, MN and Jamestown, ND. He entered the US Navy in 1951 and served four years on a destroyer, the USS Fisk. After his discharge, he obtained his Bachelor of Science Degree from BSU in 1958 and later his Master of Arts Degree from George Peabody College for Teachers in Nashville, TN in 1969. He taught Fine Arts in Sioux Falls, SD., Bovey, Alexandria and Bagley, MN for a total of 27 years. During those years, he also taught adult education pottery classes at Bagley Public Schools and two summer sessions at Bemidji State College. Al mentored a pottery program at the Clearwater’s Life Center in Gonvick. While living in Bagley, he served as an Assistant Boy Scout Master, was instrumental in organizing a hockey program and started Art in The Park events. He led two Bible Study series at Faith Lutheran Church in Bagley, MN and an adult Bible Study at Samhold Lutheran Church in Gonvick, MN. After his retirement from teaching, he farmed and had a wood shop and a pottery studio where he spent countless hours creating wood products and pottery. He loved going to craft shows around Northern Minnesota.
While in college, he met his future wife, Mary Lou Kamrud, and they were married on June 20, 1959. Together they had two children, Todd and David. During their married years, they made their home in Sioux Falls, SD, Alexandria, and Bovey, before moving to Bagley for 23 years and then to Gonvick for 29 years. He enjoyed hunting and fishing, attending sporting events for his kids and grandkids, family gatherings, and visits with friends.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Lou; children - Todd (Julie) Spray of Bagley and David (Lori) Spray of Gonvick; grandchildren - Blake (Regina) Pemberton of Andover; , Jerod (Lorena) Spray of Beulah, ND; Katelin (Ryan Landsdown) Spray; Grand Forks, ND; Dillon (Aaron) Spray, of Grand Forks, ND; Sierra (David) Serbus of Bemidji, MN; Nick (Cassie Stebe) Spray of Gonvick, MN; Luke Spray of Grand Forks, ND; Jessica (Tyler) Rogstad of Clearbrook, MN and Rachel Spray of Gonvick, MN; Great grandchildren - Chase, Greta, Henry, Liam, Gia, Darby, Hadley, Mason and expecting a great granddaughter in April. Sister – Carole (Stuart) Watson of Grand Rapids, MN; Numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
He is preceded in death by his parents and brothers-in-law, Jim Kamrud and Earl Roberts and his nephew – Rick Kamrud.
