Rollie Lake  Daily Journal July 13, 2004
Fergus Falls MN

Rollie Lake, 80, or rural Fergus Falls died Monday, July 12, 2004 at
Lake Region Hospital.

He was born April 30, 1924, in Grenora, N.D., to Gustav Adolph and Anna
(Nelson) Lake.  After the death of his father in 1928, his mother moved
the family to Alexandria.  He graduated from Alexandria High School and
went on to attend Gustavus Adolphus University for his undergraduate work.
He then enlisted in the Air Corp in November 1942 and served during WWII
as a 1st Lieutenant in the 8th Army Air Force in the European Theatre,
flying several bombing missions as a B-24 pilot.  He survived two missions
where his planes were shot down in action.

After the war he attended the University of Minnesota in St. Paul.
Upon graduation he taught the Veterans Ag Program in Fergus Falls.
His graduate work included North Dakota State University, Moorhead State
University and Midwest Banking Institute.  In 1964 he joined the staff
at First National Bank in Fergus Falls where he headed the Ag Department
and served as Vice President.  He was known for his "long" coffee breaks
at the Normandy Cafe.  Retiring after 20 years, he joined Communicating
for Agriculture as legislative affairs advisor for Beginning Farmer Bill
and later as president.  He married Ann Beckmann on June 12, 1948.

In high school and college he enjoyed playing hockey and became involved
in starting the Fergus hockey program where he served as coach.  He was
instrumental in promoting citywide hockey, serving as association
president.  He always looked forward to playing his French horn in the
Carlisle Band, attending parades and going on the tours.

He was a member of Augustana, Sverdrup and Messiah Lutheran churches and
served on their boards.  He also served on the organizational boards of
the Augustana Apartments in Fergus Falls and Tamarack Manor in Underwood.
He was a member and commander of American Legion Post 409 in Underwood, a
member of the American legion Post in Dalton and the VFW of Fergus Falls.
He was active in the noon Kiwanis as a member and president.  Rollie and
Ann spent their time at their farm by Underwood, summers at their cabin
and winters in Arizona as well as traveling to all 50 states and Europe.

He is survived by his wife, Ann, daughter, Susan Lake of Mankato and
her son, Paul of Underwood, a son, Thomas (Leigh) Lake of Underwood
and their children, Josh, Michael, Timothy, James, Megan and Allison;
daughter, Linda (Douglas) Otterson of Kindred, N.D. and their son, Dana
and daughter, Kayla; son-in-law, Alvin Olson of Underwood and his twin
sister, Janet Norquist of Batavia, Ill.

He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant son, John, brother,
John Lake and brother-in-law Rev. LeRoy Norquist.

Visitation:  Wednesday from 5 to 7:30 p.m. with a prayer service at 7:30
p.m. at the funeral home.

Service:  2 p.m. Thursday at Messiah Lutheran Church, rural Underwood.

Clergy:  Rev. Bill Colbeck

Burial:  Wennersborg Cemetery, rural Kensington

Funeral Home:  Glende-Nilson Funeral Home of Fergus Falls.