Wayne Ernest Longbella

The Minnesota Vikings might have killed our dad. Not literally, of course, but the heartbreak of so many Super Bowl failures didn't do him any favors. Wayne Ernest Longbella, 86, died Feb. 11, 2025, of coronary-related complications.

Dad loved sports, but football was tops. He was a formidable player himself back in the day, as a fullback and halfback for the Staples High School Cardinals. In 1955 a St. Cloud Times reporter described him as “displaying power running such is seldom seen in a prep contest.” His name also appeared in a Sid Hartman “roundup” when he signed a tender in 1957 to play football for the University of Minnesota.

He never played for the Golden Gophers, however. Instead he packed up and moved to Moorhead, Minn., where he went to Concordia College and Moorhead State College, eventually earning degrees in sociology and education. While working his way through school, he met the love of his life, our mom, Barbara Spencer, also from Staples. They married in 1962. Three of their four children would watch him graduate from Concordia in 1968 and Moorhead State in 1972.

While he was in college, Dad began working for Northern States Power Co. as a janitor, ending his career there in management. He retired from NSP in 1996.

Dad had always been a woodcarver, meticulously crafting all manner of things, from frames to canes. In retirement, he outfitted a workshop where he made toys out of wood, and he dabbled in painting. Crossword puzzles were a passion as was watching all the Minnesota teams play. He was a voracious reader. Mostly, though, he loved spending time with his family, especially his cherished grandchildren. And eating mincemeat pie. 

He is survived by his children Maren (Jason Abraham) Longbella of West St. Paul, Minn., Ayn (Mel) Locklear of Glyndon, Minn., Dane (Teresa) Longbella of West Fargo, N.D., and Robin (Matt) Ahonen of Dilworth, Minn.; seven grandchildren, Matthew, Mei, Lin, Ming, Finn, Cass and Tess; and a sister, Karen (Steve) Hoemberg of Staples, as well as many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, parents and two brothers. 

A private graveside service will be held at a later date at Evergreen Hill Cemetery in Staples.