Alphens Forsman

Alphens E. Forsman, of Grand Forks, ND died Thursday, March 27 at his home. He was 94 years old. Alphens was born in 1914 on a farm homesteaded by Norwegian and Swedish immigrants near Jud, ND. He attended a one-room school some miles away, and later high school in Jud. He was the only member of his family to go to college. He graduated from NDSU in 1938 as a mechanical engineer. While a student, he managed and operated the dormitory commissary and built it up to where it paid tuition for three other students. Following graduation he was commissioned as a pilot in the US Army Air Corps in 1940 and served three years in the south and southwest Pacific theaters of WWII. After the war he flew hundreds of loads in the Berlin Airlift. He had a full military career, with other assignments in Sandia, NM, at the Pentagon, and with the United States European Command Headquarters in Paris, France. His last assignment was as the Air Force ROTC Professor of Air Science at UND. He retired as a Colonel and Command Pilot in 1960, and was then employed as the Grand Forks Superintendent of Water and Wastewater. He held that position until retiring in 1978. Alphens was a long-time active member of the GF Lions Club, and an active fellow in the American Water Works Association. He was also a longtime member of the Grand Forks Sons of Norway, and a active member of St. Mark's Lutheran Church. Alphens is survived by all of his 10 children, Alpheus (Greta) Forsman of St. Louis, MO, Donna Forsman of Annandale, VA, Donald, Nels and Carol Forsman all of Grand Forks, Anita Forsman of Studio City, CA, Robert Forsman of Edgewood, TX, Linda Ault of Arvada CO, Christine (Martin) Fritz of Woodstock, GA and Allan (Collette) Forsman of Johnson City, TN, 13 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. He is also survived by a sister, Nettie Entzminger, Oakes, ND. Alphens was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years Yvonne, and by his two brothers, Henry and Anton Forsman.