Ole Lowell Flaat

Ole Lowell Flaat was born in Grand Forks, ND on May 30th, 1931 to Ole and Lucy (Lykken) Flaat, and baptized at Bygland Lutheran Church. He attended a one room rural grade school in Bygland Township for grades 1-8 and then graduated from East Grand Forks Senior High School in 1949. He attended Concordia College in Moorhead, MN for two years and then attended North Dakota State University where he graduated in 1953 and was a member of Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity. After graduating from college he went by his middle name Lowell to avoid confusion with his father, well-known farmer Ole Flaat.

On Dec. 26th 1953 Lowell married Georgia Ann Helgeson in Crookston, MN. Lowell served as an Officer in the US Naval Reserve during the Korean War. He served in the New York Harbor Defense Unit as an Engineering Officer and a Controlled Mines Officer.

After the Korean War, Lowell returned to Bygland, MN and farmed for 40 years. He also operated a cattle ranch and feedlot at Mentor, MN and owned Landeco, Inc. which developed land surrounding the Columbia Mall area in Grand Forks, ND.

Lowell served in many community organizations. He was a founder and vice president of the Marshall Polk Water System which brought water to farms and small towns in several counties in Minnesota. Lowell was Chairman of the Board of American Federal Savings Bank for ten years and board member for 30 years. He was a board member of United Hospital (now Altru) for 14 years and served one term as Chairman. He was a member of the Grand Forks Rotary Club for 30 years and served one term as President. Lowell was an active member of Bygland Lutheran Church and served for many years on the Church Council, including five times as president.

Lowell retired in 1997, after which he and Georgia spent winters in Panama City Beach, FL and summers at Lake Movil, near Bemidji MN. After 56 years of marriage, Georgia passed away January 27, 2009.

On November 14th 2009, Lowell married Verona Lee Mikkelson. Verona and Lowell then spent winters in Marco Island, FL and summers at Lake Movil. Lowell felt very blessed to have found love a second time in his life.

Lowell enjoyed many fishing and skiing trips with family and friends. He also greatly enjoyed golfing with friends at the Bemidji Town and Country Club in Bemidji, MN and the Bay Point Country Club in Panama City Beach, FL.

Lowell is preceded in death by parents Ole and Lucy Flaat, brothers Odney and Dennis, and sister Elaine. He is survived by wife Verona; four sons, David (Linda), Stephen (Kathy), Daniel (Michelle), and Christopher (Ingrid); eleven grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; five stepsons Daniel, Gregory, Jeffrey, James, and Michael; and five step-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Thursday February 21st at Bygland Lutheran Church near East Grand Forks, MN. Visitation will be at 11am with funeral service to follow at noon. Arrangements are with Norman Funeral Home, Grand Forks, ND. Memorials may be directed to Bygland Lutheran Church (40976 - 235th St. SW, Fisher, MN 56723) or Concordia Language Villages (901 8th Street South Moorhead, MN 56562).