Elmer Absalonson, 85,
passed away April 12, 2008, at home in Kalispell. He was born July 28, 1922, in Bottineau, N.D., to Norwegian emigrant parents, Samuel and Ragnhild (Peterson) Absalonson. Along with his parents, he arrived in the Flathead Valley in 1925, where he has since resided.
Elmer received his primary education at Flathead County schools. Elmer's father passed away in 1930, leaving him as a very young lad to help care for a widowed mother through the Great Depression of the 1930s. He sold newspapers on the streets of Kalispell, as well as doing any odd jobs or chores he could find in the battle of survival in those difficult times. At the finishing of his schooling, he was fortunate to get a job as a laborer for the Great Northern Railway track department. This began a lifetime love affair with the railroad.
On July 19, 1941, he married Catherine Nadine Copley in Kalispell. From this union was born two children, Harold Jordan Absalonson and Laurie Anne Absalonson (Cunningham).
In 1942, Elmer entered the military service in World War Il, serving with the 2nd Armored Division. After receiving an honorable medical discharge from the Army in 1943, he returned to employment with the railroad in train service as a brakeman. During a winter lay off from the railroad, he worked for a time in the construction of the Cabinet Gorge Dam in Idaho. In July 1956, Elmer was injured in a railroad switching accident in Columbia Falls, which resulted in a disability retirement from the railroad in 1958.
In 1959, he and his wife, Nadine, purchased the Ziegler farm on the north side of Kalispell, which they farmed for a time.
In 1967, he and his wife Nadine began the design and development of what would become Park View Terrace subdivision in Kalispell on 50 acres of the original farm. Park View Terrace was the first fully engineered and F.H.A.-approved subdivision annexed to Kalispell.
In the ensuing years, Elmer and Nadine, along with their many loyal employees, had the satisfaction of building many homes not only in Park View Terrace, but also in Happy Valley and Riverwood Estates in Columbia Falls, as well as other locations.
After nearly 50 years of marriage, his beloved wife Nadine passed away in November 1990. At her death Elmer retired from active business.
In October 1991, Elmer married Marjorie Maxine Palmerton in Columbia Falls. During their retirement years, they continued to live close to Kalispell. Marjorie passed away April 16, 2005, in Kalispell.
Elmer is survived by his two children, Harold and his wife, Judy, of Spokane, and Laurie and her husband, Charles Cunningham, of Kalispell; five grandchildren, Timothy, Tamara, Michael, Elaine and Matthew; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Elmer will be deeply missed by his family. He taught all of us the value of having a strong work ethic and the importance of always taking care of each other. Even as his health declined, he never lost his sense of humor or missed a chance to tell another story (most likely about trains). He will always be remembered affectionately as 'Big Ole.'
Visitation will be held from 3 p.m to 8 p.m. today, April 16, at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, April 17, at Faith Free Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Steve Snipstead officiating.
Buffalo Hill Funeral Home is caring for the family.