Roy O. Skoien

Roy Oliver Skoien, 96, passed away January 30, 2006 at Sunnyside Care Center, Lake Park, MN. Roy was born July 27, 1909 in Houghton, WI, the first child of Otto and Emma Skoien. He was baptized in Wisconsin and confirmed in the Hawley, MN Lutheran church September. 28, 1924, by Rev. S.G. Hauge. He worked on various farms until he was able to buy 80 acres of woodland near Ogema, MN. He cut and stripped logs for pulp mills all by hand and by himself. He loved music and played his accordion in Rollog, MN, and Maple Log Ski Lodge. At Sunnyside where he lived for the last 14 years he played every Saturday for the residents there. When he was not able to handle the accordion anymore he played the guitar, and when that became too heavy for him, he played the harmonica. He loved his Lord and would pray the Lords Prayer in Norwegian which his grandma had taught him as a child. His deep feelings never showed very much, but he never forgot the dates that his friends and relatives had visited him. He loved the outdoors and his time in the woods, where he lived a very simple life.He is survived by sisters, Elvira McCoury of Spokane, WA; & Lorraine Van Erem of Fargo, ND; many nieces & nephews, especially his niece Janice and nephew Jim. He had many friends at Sunnyside. He was preceded in death by his parents, Otto and Emma; brothers, Edwin and Casper; sisters, Irene Dahler, Leona Hofstad, and Dolores Swenson.