Arlak Jorgen Kaasa

Arlak Kaasa, 86, died Sunday, May 14, 2017 at Sanford Bemidji Medical Center.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m., Friday, May 19, 2017 at the Olson-Schwartz Funeral Home, Bemidji.  Visitation will be 5-7:00 p.m., Thursday, May 18, 2017 and one hour before at the funeral home.  Interment will be at Alaska Township Cemetery, rural Puposky, MN.

Arlak Jorgen Kaasa was born May 20, 1930 on the family farm near Nebish, MN to Eivind & Nina Kaasa.  He grew up and attended Pleasant Valley School until the eighth grade.  As a young man, Arlak worked on the family farm until he bought his first milk truck in 1950.  From that point on, he owned and operated Kaasa Trucking which transported both milk and logs in the Bemidji area.  On October 3, 1951 he married Helen Sweney in Puposky, MN.  They built their own home on land they would farm and eventually raise their children on.  Arlak finally retired from trucking in 1999 and continued farming until the end.  As a young man he enjoyed riding snowmobiles and playing cards with his friends.  He truly enjoyed spending quality time with his loving family and friends.  In his later years, Arlak took pleasure in watching birds and squirrels. 

Survived by his daughter, Ginger (Steven) Johnson; sons, Sid Kaasa, Arlen “Pete” (Cindy) Kaasa, Gary Kaasa, Gordon (Donna “Doon”) Kaasa and Ivan (Pam) Kaasa; 16 grandchildren, 26 great grandchildren; brothers, Art and Robert Kaasa; sister, Jean Roberts; brother-in-law, Bob Workman; sisters-in-law, Margaret Kaasa and Lorraine Stai.  He is preceded in death by his parents; wife Helen Kaasa; daughter, Kathy Kaasa; brothers, Orben, Butch, Leroy, Norval and Ed; sisters, Irene Runyan and Leanore Workman.

Online tributes at www.olsonschwartzfuneralhome.com

 Service Information