Carl Otto Hallstrom, 82, of Hewitt, died April 9, 2007.
He was born on Aug. 20, 1924, the eighth child of John and Caroline Hallstrom, who emigrated from Sweden in the late 1800s. He grew up on the family farm in Quamba, Minn., with his three sisters and seven brothers. He met the love of his life, Florence Wheeler, on a blind date arranged by Pidge and Marie Truax in 1952. They wed on Nov. 29, 1952, at the Salem United Methodist Church in Deer Creek. They lived in Minneapolis where he worked as a welder until they moved to Hewitt in June 1959. They successfully owned and operated Hewitt Hardware until retirement in 1991.
His family will miss his vividly detailed stories, perfectly rolled thin bread, homemade ice cream, immaculate lawn, fine craftsmanship, sun fishing off the dock with Florence whom he lovingly referred to as "Precious," his daily e-mails describing the exploits of his coffee drinking buddies, and his heartfelt greetings of "Hey, hey!" with the tilt of his hand.
The service was held on Saturday, April 14, at the Hewitt United Methodist Church with the Rev. Robert Lowe officiating. Burial was in the Oak Hill Cemetery in Deer Creek with the Bielema Family Funeral Home in Verndale in charge of arrangements. Pallbearers were: Jake Seaton, Forrest Hallstrom, Chad Guenther, Kyle Hallstrom, Chris Moller, Joey Wirth and Micah Toftness. Honorary pallbearers were: Garvin Smith, Marvin Samuelson, Jim Kohnen, Leo Peterson, David Rokes and Donald McIntire.
Survivors include his wife, Florence; daughters, Carla Wirth (Allen) and ReNaye Seaton (Sam); sons, Michael Hallstrom (Susie), Timothy Hallstrom (Sheila); 12 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; brothers, Torry Hallstrom (Carol) and George Hallstrom (JoAnn); sisters-in-law, Delpha Hallstrom and Lorraine Carlson; many cousins, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Caroline Hallstrom; brothers, Holger, Hilding, Henry, Harold, Earl; and sisters, Marian, Lorena and Della Mae.
