Eugene "Abe" Blair Abelson Obit

EUGENE 'ABE' BLAIR ABELSON, the son of Beth and Magnus Abelson, was born in January of 1932 at home on Blair street in Sioux City, IA, hence his middle name was given. He had one sister, Aileen. In his junior high years his family moved to Fargo, ND where Abe graduated in the Fargo Central High School class of 1949. He continued his education at Concordia, Moorhead,  receiving a BA degree in business and math in 1953 and returned to add an education degree in 1956. During that time he married Barbara Lee Solberg. They have three children: Sandy, Sue and Scott. In 1972 Abe added a masters degree from St. Thomas in guidance counseling to his licensure. He resided, taught, counseled and coached in Richfield for 34 years. He coached numerous sports including Varsity Girls Golf, winning a State Championship and was recognized in the Hall of Fame for Richfield coaches. In 1990 he and Barbara left Richfield and moved to a log cabin they built in Deerwood. Abe would often reflect on the "open doors" of his life. In fact he would often finish his story by saying that he should write a book about them but never did. He saw these opportunities as positives that set out the path for his life to unfold. He has always been a devoted Christian with a strong faith and guiding principles that made him the amazing man he was. He prayed and kept open to the directions the Lord would lead him. After high school Abe thought he didn't want to go to college. However, one Sunday in church, he read a notice on the wall that offered a $50 scholarship to attend a Christian College. That fall he was enrolled at Concordia and the rest is history. This was one of the open doors he would speak of. At Lake Nokomis Lutheran in Minneapolis, Christ the King Lutheran in Bloomington, Woodlake Lutheran in Richfield, and Salem Lutheran in Deerwood, Abe was active in Stephen's Ministry leadership, choir, confirmation teaching, youth commission, leadership and more. Abe had many hobbies and interests. He enjoyed spending time with his family and friends, making memories through his children's and grandchildren's sports, biking, camping, traveling (Phoenix, AZ, San Diego, CA, Easter breaks at Panama City Beach, FL, Norway and the British Isles), sporting events, skiing, AYH, Billy Graham crusades, nutty bridge, "shaggy dog" stories, eating Dagwood sandwiches, laughing, fishing, retreats, evergreen reader and Sons of Norway. He found time to build additions on his home, a garage, and his log cabin. He was mechanically minded, resourceful, frugal and self trained for projects like those. The things he didn't know how to do he would research by reading and asking others how to do it. As a proud Concordia College Alumni when he spotted a cobber ring, he took the opportunity (open door) to begin a conversation. For many years he served as the class agent for the class of 1953 and enjoyed the Concordia homecoming weekend fellowship. Abe was a listener not a fixer; he was faithful, honorable, honest, calm-natured, positive, forgiving, a good friend, a loving husband, devoted father, grandfather and great-grandfather. It can be said best that he was a "people person". He made a difference in this world and will be forever loved, remembered and dearly missed by so many here on earth. Job well done Abe, Dad, and Grandpa. We love you! Abe died on Sept. 30, 2021 at the Cuyuna Regional Medical Center  Care Center at age 89, surrounded by his wife and children. He is preceded in death by parents, in-laws, sister, Glen Dokken, Susie Abelson, Betty Chen, and baby Murphy Thelen. Abe is survived by Barbara, his wife of 67 years ("the love of his life" as he always would say); their children: Sandy Dokken, Sue (Rick )Thelen, and Scott Abelson; grandchildren: Matt (Jenn) Dokken, Andrew (Roz) Beliveau, Josh Abelson, Jason Abelson, Ross (Sally) Thelen, Summer (Jaime) Hommerding, and Nick (Sarah) Thelen; great-grand children: Christian, Kinsley, and Easton Dokken, Maya Beliveau, Sylvie and Lyla Thelen, Winston, Scarlett, Eddie, and Harvey Hommerding, and Calhoun Thelen. Funeral services will be held at Salem Lutheran Church in Deerwood on Saturday, Oct. 16, at 11 a.m. and visitation at 10 a.m. with a luncheon after the service. A private burial will occur at a later date in Bloomington. Memorials are preferred instead of flowers. His preferences are Salem Lutheran Church – building fund and Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. We children want to thank you for the phone calls, cards, transportation, picking up mail, food and especially your gifts of visits to our parents during these long years of Dad's decline with Alzheimer's. We appreciate these acts of kindness ...and they did, too. Thank you Treasured Time and CRMC Care Center staff for the personal attention and the care that you gave Abe. A guest book is on-line to view and sign. To do so, search "Eugene Abelson obit" and find it on startribune.com.