George Eugene Gaasvig

George Eugene Gaasvig, 81, passed away Saturday, May 16th, 2026, in Bemidji.

Memorial Service will be at 2 p.m. Friday, May 22, 2026, at Olson-Schwartz Funeral Home with Pastor Steve Tomberlin officiating.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Interment will be at Evergreen Cemetery in Northern Township under the direction of Olson-Schwartz Funeral Home.

George was born February 22, 1945, the son of Gladys (Alsop) and Leslie Gaasvig in Omaha, Nebraska where Les was a superintendent at the B-25 Mitchell Bomber Plant.  George was delivered by C-section due to Gladys having been physically stricken with polio.  She passed away during childbirth. The sisters at St Catherine’s took him in until his mother’s sister could arrive and take him home.  At six weeks of age, George was brought back to Bemidji and was raised as one of their own by Ethel (Alsop) and Ludwig Fossand.  There he was raised alongside his two brothers (cousins) Dean & Jerry.

George was educated at Central, JW Smith and Bemidji High School.  He earned degrees at Bemidji State College, a major in Industrial Tech and Business Administration.  He also earned a minor in Finance.

On a beautiful day in the Summer of 1965, he met Kaydell Halvorson.  On March 26, 1966, they married at Moe Lutheran Church in Roseau, Minnesota.

George was talented at building things.  He built their first home in Burnsville and later one North of Bemidji where they still reside today. George’s sense of humor was second to none. He loved to laugh and even in the hardest times kept telling jokes.

George was the Housing Director in Red Lake for 10 years.  For the ten years that followed he provided training and technical assistance for all Indian tribes throughout the United States, while working for the National American Indian Housing Council. He was fortunate to visit all 50 states. He then opted to start his own business George Gaasvig Training and continued to share his knowledge with Indian Tribes nationwide.

George is preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Jerry Fossand.

George is survived by his wife of 60 years, Kaydell, sons: Douglas (Suzette) of East Grand Forks and Craig (Karen) Gaasvig of Bemidji.  Grandsons: Nicholas; James of Fairview, Montana and Jonathon of Soldotna, Alaska. One Great Grandson: Beckett of Fairview, Montana. Brother Dean (Karen) Fossand of Detroit Lakes, Minnesota.  

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