Alan David Ness died at Pioneer Memorial Care Center, Erskine, MN. on August 27, 2011. He was born to Aaron and Marian Ness at home in Maple Bay, Minnesota on September 14, 1941. He went to Pleasantview School #97 in Garden Township through 5th grade and then moved to Fertile Public School, graduating in 1960.
Following high school, Alan worked for his uncle, Wallace Ness, at Ness Repair in Fertile where he learned blacksmithing. He went to welding school in Moorhead. Alan joined his parent's farm operation where his excellent welding skills came in very handy. Alan proudly served in the National Guard for 6 years. He farmed with his parents until 1976 at which time his younger brother Steve came home and joined the farm operation. Then he and Steve farmed together until 2005, when Alan left the business end of farming but continued with the day to day work of farming which he enjoyed immensely.
Alan's home was on his maternal grandparent's (Osmon and Mary Osmondson) farm site, located in a stand of oaks by a small lake (locally known as Buttermilk Lake) in Garden Township. In 1986 Alan took a trip to Norway to visit many relatives who in turn have visited him here in Minnesota. Alan was a member of Maple Bay Free Lutheran Church, the American Legion Post # 238 and had been a Garden Township supervisor.
Alan enjoyed and appreciated his life! Among his many pleasures were telling a good joke, the camaraderie of the Anderson/Christianson deer hunting party, visiting over coffee in the shop, taking friends and family on pontoon rides on his lake, picking on his niece and nephews, shaking for dinner at Ness Café and keeping his home and yard by the lake looking as beautiful as a park.
Alan is survived by his mother, Marian Ness, Fertile, MN; sister and brother-in-law, Mary Ness and Jerry Hengel, Avon, MN; brother and sister-in-law, Steve and Betty Ness, Erskine, MN; nephews and niece, Matthew Nesshengel and his partner, Jennifer Tahtinen, Superior, WI, Marleny Nesshengel, Florence, AZ; Isaac Ness, Fertile, MN; and Aaron J. Ness, Moorhead, MN. Alan was preceded in death by his, father, Aaron R. Ness (1977), and several aunts, uncles and cousins.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, September 1, 2011, at 2 PM in the Maple Bay Free Lutheran Church, Maple Bay, MN.

Visitation will be from 5-7 PM with a prayer service at 7 PM on Wednesday, August 31, 2011, at the Erikson-Vik Funeral Home, Fertile, MN.

Burial will be in the Maple Bay Free Lutheran Cemetery, Maple Bay, MN.

Erikson-Vik Funeral Home
Fertile, MN
www.eriksonvikfh.com