Vincent B.A. Floberg

Vincent B.A. Floberg, son of Oluf and Tillie Floberg, was born on January 12, 1930, in Skree Township, Hawley, Minnesota. He was one of six sons and one daughter. Vincent grew up in town and on the Engen farm, where he developed his strong work ethic as well as his ability to build and fix things. He picked and cleaned potatoes all of his life, a pattern that started in those early years.

By 1948 when he was graduating from Hawley High School, he had met the love of his life, Alice Bergseid. She had moved into town to complete high school. On June 5, 1949, five days after her graduation they were married by the Rev. S.G. Hauge on the Bergseid farm. Together Vincent and Alice raised five children, Kathleen Dave Weidner, Gregory Kelley, Marcus Conni, Peggy Rick Maier, and John Sloane.

Vincent enlisted and served honorably in the National Guard and the United States Army during the Korean Conflict. Following his discharge he worked at Thysell Brothers and then opened Floberg Insurance Agency. In 1968 he began hauling mail and continued until his retirement in 1997. He logged nearly one million miles on that route.

Besides the work that he did that supported his family he served his community in many ways. He was active in the DFL politics on the local, county, district and state levels. At Hegland Lutheran Church he served his Lord and Savior on the Council, Board of Deacons, Sunday School Superintendent and President of the congregation. While selling insurance Vincent was also active in the Hawley Chamber of Commerce and served as its President. Vincent knew Hawley and its people and is well respected in the community.

Vincent and Alice moved to the lakes in their retirement, where they gathered their nineteen grandchildren, twenty-five twenty-six great-grandchildren, and hosted countless family reunions. Through these many joyous times in Vincent’s life, as newer generations were filling in, he also experienced the love of family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his grandson, Jonathan; brothers, Clifton, Orville, LeRoy, and Vinton; and his sister, Vivian. His father, Oluf, died following a construction accident in the 1950’s. His mother, Tillie, died in 1996, having reached the age of 95.

Vincent is survived by his wife, Alice, of sixty-seven years; five children with their spouses, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Also surviving him is his brother, Maurice, many nieces and nephews. A few cousins, brothers-in-law, Samuel and Tosten Bergseid and sisters-in-law, Elva Bergseid, Marion Bergseid, Marianne Bergseid, Esther Kronbeck, Norma Bergseid and Angie Bergseid.

Memorials preferred to Hegland Lutheran Church Building Fund.