For our first blog posting we wanted to introduce everyone to the man who started it all, Dan Tollefson’ s father, Wallace Tollefson.  Wally has lead a fascinating life, he served in WWII and has farmed since farming was done with horses! Some of these questions were asked multiple times (once at age 94 and again at age 95) and it’s fun to see how the answers changed.

Wally was born October 2nd 1924 on a farmstead outside of Gaylord MN to Theodore and Martha Tollefson.  Both Theodore and Martha were Norwegian, Theodore’s Dad moved over from Norway and Martha was born in Norway. This is where Dan’s famed Norwegian claim comes from!

Stories Wally told about growing up in the 1930’s:

My dad had a farm way up north because it was cheaper up there and my mother came over from Norway in 1906. My dad was a mean and grouchy man.  Growing up we had to make our own toys.

I remember we had to milk cows by hand. I had to work or help with chores when I was just 6 or 7 years old. Me and my brother Chester had our own “pet” cows that meant a lot to us. If we ever got into a disagreement we would kick each other’s cows, to get even with each other. We used to stay up all night in the pig barn at farrowing time, our father couldn’t lose even one pig. If we did lose a pig we would get a licking for not watching close enough.

I went through 8 grades of country school at District #13, which was about a half mile walk. [Wally always makes sure his grandkids know that he made that walk no matter the weather! -Ed. ] My first loves were Miss Anita Hill, my 1st and 2nd grade teacher, and Miss Verona Hanson, my 3rd and 4th grade teacher. There were four teachers total that taught all eight grades, which you don’t see now-a-days. On January 14th, 1939 my mother passed away from pneumonia; that was the worst tragedy in my life. I was very close to my mother. At the time I had tonsillitis and the flu, I remember my Uncle Arthur came over to pay his respects and he came into my room and asked if he could help me to go in and see my mom. Uncle Arthur carried me and held me for quite some time (he was always my favorite Uncle). After my mother died my dad hired two girls to help with house work and take care of us kids. He married one of these women three months after my mother’s death. She later died of cancer and he married Laura Gregory from CA, she was a very nice lady and took good care of us kids.

My high school years were not happy as I remember them. My dad farmed me out to different neighbors and I rode the bus to school from their farms. I graduated high school in 1943. When my mother was living it was a different world, I tell you. 

What was the most important lesson your parents taught you?

 Thou shall not kill.  Work hard.

Where does your name come from?

I was named after my mother’s favorite Preacher.

What was your favorite subject in school? (This question was asked twice to my Grandpa, once at age 94 when Grandma was still living and again this year)

94 yr. old response: “History.”  Then Grandma chimed in “Oh Wally, for petes-sake, you surprise me! It was math!” Grandpa responded, “Oh yeah, math. I just know it wasn’t English.”

This year response: “English.”

Did you get an allowance growing up?

Heavens no!

Did you get into trouble as a kid/teen?

I suppose I was a lot like Dan.  [This means, yes. – Ed.]

What did you want to be when you grew up? This question was asked twice to my Grandpa, once at age 94 when Grandma was still living and again this year)

94 yr. old response: “Highway Patrol Man.”  Grandma added, “Greyhound bus driver”. Grandpa merely smiled in response.

This year response: “Highway Patrol Man. I didn’t want to be a farmer”

Why did you become a farmer?

Darlene didn’t want to wait for me to become a Highway Patrol Man, she was raised on a farm and that was the living she was comfortable with. [Darlene is Wally’s wife, she passed away a year ago. – Ed.]

How did you meet your wife?

21st of November 1946, I made it home from WWII, one of the first things I did was buy a 1940 Mercy Club Coupe. I think it was the nicest car in Nicollet county. My first job as a civilian was hauling milk for Norseland Creamery. I went on a route and picked up milk in 8 to 10 gallon cans and hauled them to the St. Peter milk plant. I received $110/month, my overseas pay was $70/month so I was happy with that.

One night, a neighbor boy (that had been in service too) and I went on a double date. We had to wait until 9:00pm because my girlfriend was working at the movie theater taking tickets. Then we went to the St. Peter ballroom for a dance. My girl and I didn’t get along very good dancing. My friend didn’t care much about dancing, so I danced with his gal friend [Darlene – Ed.] the whole night! When we went home I took my girlfriend home first, which was the last time I went out with her. Then I took Darlene home and the whole way we held hands. When we got to her house I asked my friend if he was going to walk her to the door and he said, “What for? You’ve been holding her hand all night”. So I walked her to her door and we dated for quite some time.

In July 1947, Willy [best friend from childhood – Ed.] and I decided to go out to North Dakota for the grain harvest, we heard there was good money in doing that. We found a farmer who said they could use us. So we spent our time hauling wheat to the thresher machine. It was a neat set up, we each got our own team of horses to do the work! In August, I had to return home to be best man in my brother’s wedding. So Willy and I came home. As soon as I got home, I took out Darlene again and in about 3 weeks we got engaged and set the date for Oct 3, 1947. I asked Darlene, “Ever think of marriage?” and she responded, “Well, I think about it, but that don’t mean much”. So I asked, “Well, will you marry me?” and she said “yes”! We were married at the Sibley Church in a private ceremony because we didn’t have any money and Darlene’s parents were poor people. So we did it our way.

Wally and Darlene

How did you get into farming?

After a weekend honeymoon I started at the filling station, pumping gas and being a grease monkey for $120/month. We rented an apartment for $10/month. Then a fellow (a great man and the best boss I ever had) came and asked me if I would go along to the south for grain harvest and I liked the idea because of the money and experience, it was the first time I would get to run a Combine. At the time Darlene was pregnant, so she went and stayed with my brother and his wife. We headed out to Texas where I started combining. After we got thru there we headed to Oklahoma, then Kansas, then the Dakotas and finally back to Minnesota. By this time Darlene was very much pregnant. So I ran the combine in the St Peter/Nicolette area and we rented a cabin outside of St Peter.

After Harvest, Willy and I took a job at the tile factory, at this time Darlene found out that the baby didn’t have a heartbeat. When I got home for dinner Darlene was laying on the bed crying and when she told me why all we could do with lay there and cry together. A week later, Dec 5th 1948, the baby was born and we named her Kathleen and buried her. Darlene lost her eyesight for one day too, that was scary. I will never forget that day, I felt so sorry for Darlene.

The next spring an old friend and neighbor asked if I would want to start farming. He wanted us to move to his farm and rent it. So we took him up on his offer. I had a class on farming one evening a week, a perk of the armed forces. We started out with 3 milk cows and a flock of chickens.

One of my brothers was still home so we decided to go into farming together, which was a huge mistake. We bought him out after a few years. Then I continued farming on my own.  Darlene and I had five kids together: Marcia, Daniel, Janet, Rodney and Karen.

How has farming changed over the years?

It’s changed a lot! We used to farm with horses and two row planters. Now-a-days its tractors and 12 row planters.

What is your favorite memory with your family?

Well, no matter how tough it was, Dan, he did it. [Pause – Ed.]

There was no body in the world like Darlene. When we started farming there was no electricity or running water (after a month we got electricity). But Darlene didn’t mind, she had been raised that way. I would get water from the pit and bring it to the house.  I milked our 3 cows and filled eight cans, the milk man would come with the empty cans to be filled and he would bring them full of soft water for Darlene to do laundry with. He was a nice older gentleman and Darlene never forgot him for that.

Did you expect Dan to be a farmer?

Yes, I did. [Pause – Ed.] I tell you, that son of mine is something else. He don’t give up for nothing! Dan with a broken leg drove the truck in harvest time, he didn’t care. He had to crawl up to the top of the truck and redistribute the corn and he did it, broken leg be darned. I can’t help but be proud of a son like that, I tell you. He was his mother’s boy too, you know? He was such a little guy!

What do you think of Dan’s pork and how he specialized?

I guess it’s alright [that’s Grandpa’s way of saying he likes it – Ed.]. I like the ribs more than anything.

What is your favorite thing about the holidays?

When you get to be 96 it don’t make no difference.

Finally, what makes you happy?

My wife.

We never had any trouble getting along with the kids. They are just about perfect as far as I can tell. Dan is always so good about helping. Karen is so good. Janet, ain’t nobody like Janet. She goes to church, plays the organ and teaches Sunday school. Rod married such a nice person. Marcia, you always like the oldest the best it seems. They were all special and great kids, that was Darlene’s doing, not mine.

After many many years of blessings and good fortune, I take a few minutes every day to thank the lord. Because without him we have nothing. Even though there might be some days we’re disgusted, he’s still there for you.