Obituary: Arvid Nystrom

Arvid Edwin Nystrom, age 90, died on Saturday, March 9, 2013 at Crossroads Care Center in Worthington. He was born July 22, 1922 in Bigelow Township, Nobles County, Minnesota to Peter Gust and Sigrid Marie (Ericson) Nystrom. He attended country school and graduated from Worthington High School in 1940. His mother died when Arvid was three years old and her sister Alma came from Sweden to help raise the three sons until Arvid married.

Arvid was united in marriage to Florence Ada Langseth on September 6, 1944 at Church of Christ in Worthington. Arvid lived on his childhood farm until moving to Worthington in mid-1990’s. He loved the land and was proud to be a farmer. He also sold Farmer’s Union Insurance for many years. He was extremely fond of the Nystrom Orchard which his father planted, and sharing apples gave him tremendous joy.

Arvid accepted Christ as his personal Savior at a young age during Vacation Bible School at Indian Lake Baptist Church. He was a member of the Indian Lake Baptist Church where he served as church treasurer for many years. He was extremely proud of his Swedish heritage and that the church was originally founded in part by his ancestors as the Swedish Baptist Church. He also spoke Swedish fluently for most of his life, though he never learned to read or write the language.

Arvid was fond of attending community concerts at the band shell, attending travelogues, and traveling. He and Florence traveled to Sweden twice, throughout the United States, including Hawaii, and cruised in the Caribbean. The couple also enjoyed trips to northern Minnesota with his brother Roland and his wife, Hazel, to pick wild blueberries. The couple also belonged to a neighborhood Rook Club for many years. Arvid was well known for his competitive spirit, especially in horseshoes and checkers. In his early days, he pitched for the country kids in softball and was very proud that they beat the city kids. Arvid had a remarkable sense of humor and loved to tell stories. He also played Santa Claus for many years and often exchanged pranks with friends. The annual Fourth of July church picnic and Oyster Stew were favorites of his. Arvid and Florence often attended the Nobles County and the Minnesota State Fairs. In his later years, he diligently compiled scrapbooks, mostly of photos and of articles in the local newspaper. Arvid documented his travels and events by taking thousands of slides and candid photos.

Survivors include three children; Janet (Donald) Haugen of Worthington and daughter Renae Haugen of Dallas, TX; Karen (Doug) Wasmund of Worthington and her children Michele (Rob) Schroeder of Lake Chrystal, MN with great-grandchildren Josh, Karina, and Megan, and Dr. Matthew Wasmund, Jackson MN; Dr. Dale (Lynette) Nystrom of Sioux Center, IA, and his sons, Tomas Nystrom, Sioux Center, Dr. David (Melissa) Nystrom, Carroll, IA, with great- grandchildren Zachary, James, and Leah, Steven Nystrom, Ames, IA, and great-grandson Samuel, and Mark Nystrom, Sioux Center; daughter-in-law Jean Nystrom of Worthington and her children, Sarah Nystrom, Baltimore, Maryland, Dr. Aaron (Kia) Nystrom and great-grandson, Kip, Worthington, and Rachel (Tyler) Allen of Sioux Falls, S.D.

Arvid was preceded in death by his wife Florence on March 20, 1990 and his son Marvin on October 11, 2001.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 16, 2013, at 11:00 a.m., at the Indian Lake Baptist Church near Worthington, MN, with Pastor Jonathan Larson officiating. Burial will be in the Indian Lake Baptist Cemetery.

Visitation will be held on Friday, March 15, 2013, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at the Benson Funeral Home in Worthington.

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