Alton C. Rysdahl was born May 9, 1929, to parents Lewis and Judith (Berg) Rysdahl at Clarkfield, Minnesota. He was the oldest of eight children. He was baptized and confirmed at Clarkfield Lutheran Church. He attended and graduated from Clarkfield High School and then attended St. Olaf College. Al met his wife of 59 years at St. Olaf College. Al and Dolores (Spitzack) were married August 27, 1950, at Faribault, Minnesota. They were the parents of seven children: Renee, Dennis, Ellen, Diane, Paul, Joyce and Wayne. He operated the family farm, and was a State Farm Insurance agent for 17 years in Buffalo Lake and Madison, Minnesota. In 1976, Al and Dee returned to the farm that has been in his family for more than 100 years. For the past 15 years they spent winters in Phoenix, Arizona. Al was an avid golfer, he loved reading and gardening. Al and Dee also traveled extensively and he enjoyed many volunteer activities in both Minnesota and Arizona. He was a lifetime member of Clarkfield Lutheran Church. Al passed away under the loving care of Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, on Wednesday, September 16, 2009, at the age of 80 years, 4 months, and 7 days. He is survived by his wife, Dolores and his children, Renee (Larry) Stevens of Santa Fe, New Mexico, Dennis (Julita) Rysdahl of Tofte, Minnesota, Ellen (Dale) Muellerleile of Southlake, Texas, Diane (Ronald) Halgerson of Marshall, Minnesota, Paul (Jill) Rysdahl of Marshall, Minnesota, Joyce (David) Anastasi of Lindstrom, Minnesota and Wayne (Lynn) Rysdahl of Arvada, Colorado. He is also survived by 13 grandchildren, Scott, Andrew and Bradlee Rysdahl, Kira Shultz, Susan Adair, Lindsay and Lauren Halgerson, Beret, Brock and Brent Rysdahl, Katie and Anthony Anastasi, and Eric Rysdahl and one great grandchild, Alex. Also surviving are his siblings, George, Don, Loretta Gradt, Janice Sheldahl and Dorothy Marian. He was preceded in death by brothers, Stanley and Sherwood and parents Lewis and Judith Rysdahl. Visitation: Friday, September 18, 2009 ~ 5:00-7:00 p.m. Prayer Service-6:30 p.m. Clarkfield Lutheran Church, Clarkfield, Minnesota Funeral Service: Saturday, September 19, 2009 ~ 11:00 a.m. Clarkfield Lutheran Church Clarkfield, Minnesota Clergy Officiating: Pastor Mike Hanson Organist: Charlann Anspach Vocal Solo: David Rupp "Amazing Grace" "Precious Lord, Take My Hand" Casketbearers: (His Grandchildren) Susan Adair ~ Kira Shultz ~ Lindsay Halgerson Lauren Halgerson ~ Scott Rysdahl ~ Andrew Rysdahl Bradlee Rysdahl ~ Eric Rysdahl ~ Anthony Anastasi Beret Rysdahl ~ Brock Rysdahl ~ Brent Rysdahl Final Resting Place: Clarkfield Lutheran Cemetery Clarkfield, Minnesota Please direct any memorials to: Smile Train. Smile Train is Al and Dee's favorite charity, which provides cleft palate surgery to children in poor countries. To donate go to: www.smiletrain.org (then choose: Donations, Find a Fund, Al Rysdahl) Arrangements by Lynner Funeral Home Since 1891 Clarkfield Minnesota