Daniel Letnes

Daniel S. Letnes, 97, passed away at Valley Eldercare on Monday, August 18, 2008. Dan was born July 15, 1911 on the family farm located between Crookston and Eldred, MN. He attended country grade school and in 1931 was awarded advanced class graduate from Northwest School of Agricultural in Crookston, MN. It was here that Dan met Alpha Bruun, who was to become his wife. Dan and Alpha wed in 1933, and enjoyed 62 years of marriage until she passed away in 1996. Dan received his undergraduate degree from the University of North Dakota, and completed law school in 1936. The present law firm of Letnes, Marshall, Swanson, & Warcup was founded as a private practice in 1937 when Dan began practicing general law in both state and federal courts. He was the assistant state attorney for Grand Forks County for four years. In 2004, Dan retired from the practice of law after decades of serving his clients, peers, and the community. Dan's name continues to be synonymous with the highest levels of integrity. Dan was commissioned by the United States Navy in 1943. He and his family moved to the Boston area where he received special training in naval communications from Harvard University. For three years he served with distinction on the USS Melette as Assistant Communications Officer, earning a Lieutenant Junior Grade classification. He was in Tokyo Bay onboard the USS Melette overlooking the USS Missouri when the treaty was signed to end World War 2. Dan was an active member of United Lutheran Church in Grand Forks. He served many years as the Sunday School Superintendent. Dan was a Master Mason through the Acacia Lodge No. 4 AF & AM, and was a member of the Kem Shriners in Grand Forks. He was honored as a "Top Aggie" by Northwest School of Agriculture in 2006, the highest distinction offered by their alumni association. Dan was a passionate golfer into his,nineties, playing often in Grand Forks and his winter homes in the Phoenix area. Dan married Geneva Knutson in 1999, who survives him. Dan and Geneva spent more than nine happy years together in Grand Forks with winters in Mesa, AZ. Dan was preceded in death by his wife Alpha Bruun Letnes and daughter Gwendolyn Letnes Gooselaw, step-son Larry Robert Knutson and nine brothers and sisters. Dan is survived by his wife Geneva Knutson Letnes and her daughters Doris (John) Black and Sandra (Cliff) Busch, son Richard, daughter in law Louise (Michael) Thompson, grandchildren Janet (Thomas) Scarf, Edward Gooselaw, Kathryn (David) Sorenson, Daniel (Bridget) Letnes, great-grandchildren John, Zachary, William, Allison,,Peter, Claire, Lauren, and many nieces and nephews who looked to Dan as,the loving family patriarch.