Theodore FranklinTegland, age 82, finished his race on November 11, 2012 after a brief struggle with cancer.
Fiercely independent and creative, Ted believed in family, self support and helping others. A farmer at heart, he loved growing things, family gatherings, the outdoors, creating solutions to home and machine repair problems, a good John Wayne movie, cutting wood and keeping up with world and local events. He never lost his sense of wonder, sense of humor and curiosity over how things and people worked.
Ted was born September 16, 1930, in Goodall, Iowa to Truman and Leta Tegland. He worked on the family farm until he graduated from Forest City High School in 1948.
Ted served his country as a heavy equipment operator in the Korean war with H/S Co. 62 AUS C.E. from 1952 to 1954. He spent 8 additional years in the Army Reserves..
Returning home, he met and married the love of his life, Darla Delaine Duryee on January 23, 1955 in McIntire, Iowa. Married for 57 years, they were blessed with 2 sons and 2 daughters (each one his favorite!), 4 sons and daughters-in-law, 11 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren, all of whom have benefited greatly from Ted’s wisdom, love, guidance and presence in their lives.
The couple originally settled in Austin, Minnesota where Ted received training as a tool and die maker. He applied those skills at Tonka Toys in Mound, Minnesota for many years. He
continued to work well into retirement at various handyman jobs, including work for Carver County and Mykkanen homes in Cokato. Ted and Darla renovated and sold homes in Watertown, Waverly and Howard Lake before settling in Cokato.
Ted and Darla built a household of faith where prayer, church and service to others was foundational and doing the right thing was expected. Each of their children, children in law, grandchildren and great grandchildren have grown up knowing that they were greatly loved and that Jesus is Lord of the Tegland household.
Ted was preceded in death by his parents, brother Virgil Tegland, sister Helen Myre, brothers in law Cordell Duryee and Harvey Myre, sister in law Nola Hauck and a beloved son, Scott.
While rejoicing that Dad is in heaven, he was greatly loved, and shall be missed by his wife, Darla; daughter Dawn (David) Rostomily of Cokato, daughter in law Brenda Tegland (Scott’s wife) of Cokato, son Damon (Carla) of Anderson, MO and daughter Lorrie (Roger) Miller of Janesville, MN. His brother Dean (Rita) Tegland, and brothers and sisters in law, Faye Tegland (Virgil’s wife), Loren (Leone) Duryee, Mary Duryee (Cordell’s wife), Craig (Karen) Duryee, Lane (Terri) Duryee, and Sharla (Jon) Lieder also mourn his loss. Grandpa Ted will also be missed by his grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, coworkers from Tonka, and many friends.
A memorial service will take place on Saturday, November 17, 2:00 pm at the First Baptist Church of Cokato, with the Reverend Dan Swanson officiating. Visitation will begin at 12:30 pm at the church. Special music will be provided by the Tegland family. As it was Ted’s wish to be cremated, honorary pallbearers are Ted’s grandchildren and their spouses: Jennifer & Adam Johnson, Kate & Steven Schmoll, Ben Rostomily, Laura Rostomily, Matthew & Vanessa Tegland, Michael Tegland, Robert Tegland, Emily Tegland, Melissa O’Brien, Cassandra Miller and Joshua Miller as well as Ted’s great nephew Alex Hauck. Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Cokato, 320-286-2534, www.swansonpeterson.com