Daniel "Dan" Sjurseth

Daniel Arthur Sjurseth, age 76 of Albany Minnesota, passed away Wednesday, November 11, 2020, at Mayo Clinic Methodist Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota after a long battle with cancer.

A Christian funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, November 21 at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose, Minnesota. Interment will follow at Immanuel Lutheran Church Cemetery near Albany, Minnesota.

Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, November 20 at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose.

Daniel Arthur Sjurseth was born September 11, 1944, in Devils Lake, North Dakota to Arthur and Allegra (Lemke) Sjurseth. His childhood was spent in Albany, Minnesota. Dan graduated from Hope (North Dakota) High School in 1962, where he enjoyed an active life in athletics playing baseball, football, track, and basketball throughout his years there. From 1963 to 1967 Dan served as an active member of the United States Navy working as an Electronics Technician and later as Supervisor of Electronics watch section. During his time in the Navy, he also worked with Space Avionics and Westinghouse. He was honorably discharged in September 1969 and continued his career as an Electronics Technician with Westinghouse until 1975. In October 1967, on a blind date, he met Louise “Pat” Gillette in St. Louis, Missouri. Dan and Pat got married on May 25, 1968, in St. Charles, Missouri. During his time at Westinghouse Dan and Pat traveled extensively in the United States and also lived in Spain. In 1971 they purchased Otto and Clara Lemke’s farm in Albany, Minnesota. The family farm was an important part of Dan’s life and he had many stories and fond memories of spending time there as a young child with his grandparents. In 1976 Dan and Pat moved to the St. Charles, Missouri area where they welcomed their first two children, Luke and Jyl. Dan worked as a meat cutter in the St. Charles area from 1976 to 1983. Dan began his career with Lystads/Ecolab in 1983 after moving to Wausau, Wisconsin where Dan and Pat’s third child, Lance, was born. In 1986 Dan moved his family to Hutchinson, Minnesota where they lived for 8 years. In 1994 Dan took a position at the Ecolab office in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and bought a home in nearby Crookston, Minnesota. Dan retired from Ecolab in 2006 after 23 years of service. Dan and Pat retired to the Lemke family farm in the summer of 2006.

In retirement, Dan was an active member of the Albany American Legion where he served as an Honor Guard. Dan loved to spend his time fishing, hunting, watching sports, spending time with family- especially his grandchildren, and hosting extraordinary fish-fry gatherings at the family farm.

Dan cherished his faith, family, lifetime friends, and the simple things in life. He truly embodied the quote by J.R.R. Tolkien: “It is no bad thing to celebrate a simple life.” He was held in high regard and loved dearly by family and friends, he was a genuine spirit who helped people readily, and provided a steadfast example of kindheartedness, service, and sacrifice.

Survivors include his wife, Louise; children: Luke (Karen) Sjurseth of Grand Rapids, MN, Jylian (Jeremy) Charles of Winona, MN, Lance (Hyebin) Sjurseth of Minneapolis, MN; grandchildren: Safa, Sean, Amelia, Summit, Creedence and Deacun; brothers: Allen (Sonja) Sjurseth, Keith (Jean) Sjurseth; aunt, Ardella Kjelstad; and beloved cousins, nephews, and nieces.

Daniel was preceded in death by father, Arthur Sjurseth; mother, Allegra (Lemke) Sjurseth; uncles, Erhard Lemke, Robert Kjelstad; aunts, Pat Bjorklund, Adeline (Lemke) Campbell; cousins, Michelle Campbell, Rob Kjelstad.

The family is asking those who wish to send flowers to call Albany Country Floral directly at (320)845-4776 to order a special symbolic bouquet, a pair of one yellow rose, and one blue carnation- or multiple pairs if families wish to join their flower memorials together.