Daniel C. Skanson

Daniel Skanson passed away on Saturday, October 21, 2017 at Sanford Medical Center in Fargo, ND.  He was born to Christian and Mabel Skanson on April 14, 1943 at his family farm in rural Fertile. He was baptized and confirmed at nearby Maple Lake Lutheran Church.  Daniel went to school in Fertile, MN and graduated from high school there in 1962.   He was married to his high school sweetheart, Bonnie, on September 11, 1965. Bonnie knew that he was the one at the age of 16. He went on to receive his Bachelor's Degree at Moorhead State University in 1966.  Upon completing college, he secured a job with the Crookston Public Schools as an elementary teacher where he taught for 34 years.   He impacted the lives of many students there through his work teaching English, Social Studies and Environmental Education, including establishing the school's first nature center and being integral to the Itasca State Park student camping program.  He spent many hours coaching after school activities with students in 7 ^th and 8 ^th grade football and JV and Varsity wrestling.

In 1969, he settled with Bonnie on his family farm which was homesteaded by his grandparents (Pedar and Hendricka) in 1882.  Daniel and Bonnie would go on to raise cattle and farm the land there while raising their family of 4 boys, Darren, Brant, Cisco, and Eric.

In retirement, Daniel drove bus for Fertile-Beltrami schools to many extra- curricular activities and subbed on bus routes.  He loved all the students on his bus and would often bring treats for them.    His true passion was working in his wood shop, refinishing antiques, reusing old wood into many types of furniture, games, toys, and post office banks citing exactly where the recycled wood had come from.   He constructed many items for his home…cupboards and furniture of all sorts.    He volunteered as a Polk County Fair Board member for 22 years as Assistant Secretary, where he founded the fair's free stage entertainment program.  Daniel has served on the Godfrey township board as Treasurer since 1971.  He enjoyed golfing with Bonnie especially on late Sunday afternoons.   He also enjoyed the Monday morning golfing with his friends and of course, his morning "coffee clutch" with his buddies every day of the week.  One of his great joys was seeing his grandchildren grow up, enjoying the time they spent on his farm, and attending their various activities when he visited them at their homes.

He is survived by Bonnie, his wife of 52 years.  Children:  Darren, wife Rachel, granddaughter,  Rena; Brant ,wife Julie, grandchildren, Trinity, Annika, Christian;  Cisco, wife Kim, grandsons, Tanner, Sawyer, Ryder; Eric, wife Jill, grandchildren,  Bergen, Jack, Avery, Jamie, and one more on the way any day now. He was preceded in death by his father (Christian), mother (Mabel), and sister (Marlys). Daniel was a resident of Fertile, Minnesota at the time of passing.

Memorials preferred to:
Polk County Fair "Friends Of The Fair"
C/O Diane Fuchs
10423  438th St. SW
Fertile, MN 56548

Memorial Service: 10:00, Monday, October 30, 2017, at Maple Bay Free Lutheran Church, Maple May, MN.

Visitation: 5:00-7:00PM Sunday, October 29, 2017 with a 6:30PM prayer service at the church.

Burial: Maple Bay Free Lutheran Church Cemetery, Maple Bay.