Blaine Blanchford WALLIN

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: 8 Jul 1934, Cambridge, Isanti County, Minnesota

Notes:

Blaine B. Wallin, 88, of Dalbo, MN, passed away on Mon, Oct 17, 2016, at Abbott-Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, MN. Blaine Wallin was born on Sept 10, 1928, in Walbo, MN, to Oscar and Mabel (Torell) Wallin. Blaine was preceded in death by his wife: Phyllis; his parents; brothers: Lawrence, Kermit, Marvin, Clifford, and Walden; and sisters: Bernice Larson, Laverne Larson Swanson, and Frances Bergdahl. Blaine was the ninth child out of 11 and attended Walbo Country School until the ninth grade. Although Blaine did not have a lot of time for fun, we were surprised to learn recently that as a young boy, he played hockey at a small pond near their farm. Blaine told us he played goalie because he could not skate very well. For shin pads, he tied large Sears catalogs to his shins. Blaine's mother died of breast cancer when Blaine was 16. Shortly after that time, he quit school to earn money to help with the family. Blaine drove a team of his dad's horses while working at a logging camp near Dalbo, MN. He later hitchhiked to North Dakota and picked potatoes with his kid brother. Later he hitchhiked to downtown Minneapolis, MN, to work as a runner for the paper. While he was on a break, Mr. Hage (from Hage Concrete) asked him if he wanted a job. So Blaine became a laborer and started his career in construction. In 1950, Blaine met Phyllis Lundahl at a dance at Spectacle Lake. He was drafted in 1950 as one of the first draftees of the Korean War, and after 3 months of basic training, returned home to marry Phyllis in November of 1950. Blaine then took a 'troop train' to San Francisco and from there a ship to Korea where he spent almost two years. During that time, he received a cable from the Red Cross telling him that his daughter Connie had been born. Throughout his tour in Korea, Blaine was involved in many battles and sustained wounds that earned him a Purple Heart, which he displayed very proudly. Blaine returned home in 1952 and joined Jesco Co., a concrete and masonry business and remained there for over 40 years, retiring as a brick foreman. It is rare to go more than a few blocks in the Twin Cities without seeing a building that Blaine worked on. Shortly after leaving the service, Blaine purchased a one acre lot in Brooklyn Park, MN, and found a small home for sale in Osseo, MN, which they moved onto the lot. Over time, as they expanded their family to 3 girls and one boy, they added a basement, a garage, a large dormer and two additional bedrooms. Over the next several years, Blaine and Phyllis purchased a lot on Perry Lake, near Crosby, MN, where the family roughed it with a very small trailer and a large tent. They sold that lot and then purchased a small cabin and guest cottage near Mille Lacs Lake. Later, Blaine and Phyllis saw a for sale sign on a lot, with a two bedroom trailer, right on Mille Lacs Lake. They decided to 'trade-up', so they sold the cabin and guest cottage and purchased the lake property, where the family spent several fun summers. Eventually, Blaine and Phyllis found a farmstead near Day, MN, which they purchased and where they spent their weekends and vacations farming, while staying in a tiny camper. When Blaine retired from Jesco in 1996, they sold their house in Minneapolis and began building the house on the farmstead that Blaine had spent years designing. His pride and joy was the large kitchen and pantry he designed for Phyllis. During retirement, Blaine and Phyllis traveled a bit, going up to Park Rapids, MN, Chokio, CA, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Florida (where, with Russ and Joyce Lee, they mistakenly boarded the Thunder Mountain Railroad ride instead of the Walt Disney World Railroad Train), Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, Las Vegas, NV, St Louis, MO, and San Antonio, TX, where they attended a Korean War reunion. They also purchased a two bedroom park model home in Arizona where they spent several winters. Blaine retired from farming in 2009, but retained his land and equipment. When Phyllis, his wife of 63 years, passed away in Feb, 2014, Blaine was heartbroken and struggled a bit to find his new role. In Nov, 2015, he was diagnosed with a faulty heart valve and had replacement surgery, which was very successful. As his daughter was arriving to bring him home, Blaine suffered a brain bleed and was not able to return to the farm until Jan, 2016. With the wonderful assistance of his Visiting Angels (Karen, Dawn, Shauna, Kathy, Sarah) Blaine was able to live at the farm until late June, when he suffered another brain bleed and had been in and out of the hospital until his death on Mon, Oct 17. Most of all, Blaine was a great man who will be forever remembered for his strong character and quiet generosity. He will be truly missed by all who knew him. He is survived by his children: Connie (Kent) Lee of Minneapolis, Gregory Wallin of Rush City, MN, Julie (Tim) Englund of Park Rapids, MN, Patty (Craig) Conlon of Hamel, MN; 8 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren; sisters Joyce (Don) Tessmer of Princeton, MN, and Norma Ziebarth of Litchfield, MN; also survived by many friends and other relatives.

Baptism:
First Lutheran

Blaine married Phyllis Marie LUNDAHL on 18 Nov 1950 in Isanti County, Minnesota. Phyllis was born on 13 Mar 1929 in Meeker County, Minnesota; died on 14 Feb 2014 in Isanti County, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Died:
The Estates in Rush City