Thief River
Falls - Severine Eugene Prestegaard, 78, died Monday, January 29,
2001 at Northwest Medical Center in Thief River Falls.
Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, February 3, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls with Rev. Tim Bauer officiating. Diane Johnson was the pianist. Casketbearers were Herman Schultz, Louis Schultz, Gene Votava, Ward Votava, Tim Votava and Paul Votava. Interment was in Greenwood Cemetery in Thief River Falls with Green Funeral Home in charge of the arrangements.
Severine Eugene Prestegaard was born on April 19, 1922 in Star township of Pennington county, the son of Severt and Ellen (Sandeen) Prestegaard. He grew up in Star Township and attended country schools. When he was 12 years old, Eugene and his sister, Orissa, moved to Thief River Falls to attend school. For a year, Eugene and his boyhood friend, Robert Parnow, lived together while attending school. He then attended the Northwest School of Agriculture in Crookston for two years, graduating in 1938. After completing his education, he returned to Goodridge where he raised sheep, pigs and chickens.
In 1958, Eugene married June Morberg-Dickman, and the couple moved into Thief River Falls in 1959. To this union, five children were born. From April of 1957 until 1968, Eugene worked as a deputy sheriff for Pennington County. From January 1, 1969 until 1994, he served as Pennington County Recorder. While serving as county recorder, he also operated the Pennington County Abstract Company, selling it in 1995. After his retirement in 1996, he worked as a banquet server at Shooting Star Casino in Mahnomen.
At the stroke of midnight on January 1, 1978, Eugene was united in marriage to Willia M. Fjeld at Thief River Falls where the couple made their home.
He wa a long-time member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls. He was a life member of the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association, a member and past president of the Eagles Club and past president of the Minnesota County Recorders Association. He was also a member of the Minnesota Land Title Association and served as president from 1979 to 1980.
Eugene enjoyed talking with people, helping others whenever possible and spending time with family and watching them grow. He also enjoyed such simple things as good food, gardening, playing cribbage and dancing as his wife. Through the years, he served as a legal guardian for many people.
Survivors include his wife, Willia; a sister, Celaine (Ward) Votava of Thief River Falls; two sons, Duane (Julie) of Truckee, Calif. and Dean (Alicia) of Ann Arbor, Mich.; four daughters, Mollie (LeRoy) Ose of Thief River Falls, Laura (Gary) Paddock of Reeseville, Wisc., Valerie (Craig) Zahara of Cold Spring and Juanita Prestegaard of Richfield; three stepdaughters, Wavell (Lloyd) Sorenson of Plummer, Delaine (John) Hammer of Thief River Falls and Renae (John) Accardo of Madison, Wisc.; 14 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
Eugene was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Stuart in 1979; a sister, Orissa Schultz; a foster brother, Millard; and a sister and three brothers in infancy. A00003B2000FB07