Richard Sjoblom

Richard Eric Sjoblom was born on August 22, 1915 at home in Larsmont, Minnesota. He went to be with the Lord on July 20, 2015 at Bethany Care Center in Minneapolis just one month shy of his 100th birthday.
Rick grew up on the North Shore of Lake Superior and attended the "Little Red Schoolhouse" in Larsmont, a one-room schoolhouse, which has been well preserved and is listed on the national registry of historic buildings. He attended high school in Two Harbors and graduated in 1933.
Rick and his brothers helped his father, John Sjoblom, build 12 log cabins which became known as "John's Breezy Point Log Cabins" on Lake Superior. Growing up, Rick did some commercial fishing for herring, and he also worked as a bellhop and clerk at the Arrowhead Hotel in downtown Duluth until 1937, when he decided to move to Minneapolis to go to school.
He attended Northwestern College for one year, then returned home and worked for Ward Baking Company selling baked goods to grocery and convenience stores. In 1941, when World War II broke out, Rick was drafted into the army, but he was rejected for service due to health issues. Wanting to do his part for the war effort, he worked for D.W.Onan Company, which manufactured needed supplies for a large defense contract with the army.
Rick moved back home and worked at the Arrowhead Hotel again, while living with his parents. He helped out at the resort, as well as working at Ollie's Store in Larsmont, waiting on tourists, pumping gas, and scooping ice cream cones. It was at Ollie's Store that Rick met his wife, Marlys! She and her sister Shirley went in for an ice cream cone, and she came out with a dating relationship with Rick! This was the summer of 1941.
In 1942, Rick moved to Minneapolis in search of a job, continued dating Marlys, and started attending Salem Covenant Church, for which he has had a life-long membership. Rick and Marlys were married at Salem on October 7, 1944. They had a wonderful life together that lasted 69 years!
Over the years, Rick worked as an accountant at St. Paul Hydraulic Hoist Company while he continued taking night classes in business accounting. Over the years, he worked as an accountant for Strong Scott, Land O' Nod, St. Paul Rehabilitation Center, The Minnesota Society for the Blind, and Commer's Interiors. In his "spare time", Rick worked on obtaining his real estate license, and he also had a rug shampooing business.
Rick retired in 1985 from Commer's Interiors at the age of 65, but after six months, he felt the desire to go back to working. Rick worked part-time as an accountant for Presbyterian Homes. He also drove bus for their daycare for the elderly. He continued working for Presbyterian Homes for 10 years!
After fully retiring in 1995, Rick enjoyed volunteering at church in a number of capacities, planting and tending their gardens at home, traveling, spending time with family and friends. Music was always a big part of Rick's life. He enjoyed playing piano by ear, playing his mandolin in the Salem String Band, singing in a group called, "The Singing Fishermen" at age 16, and attending musical productions and concerts. Some of his greatest joys in life were his three children, Kathy, Gayle, and Mark, and his growing number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was always so proud of his family!
From childhood throughout his life, Rick's deep faith in God was a constant source of strength. He was a true prayer warrior and spiritual leader in our family. The legacy of his faith has set a powerful example for his entire family, for which we are grateful!
Rick is preceeded in death by: his wife, Marlys; his son, Mark; brothers, Elmer. Lester and Phillip; sisters, Violet and Ruth; parents, John and Sophia Sjoblom; and great-granddaughter, Sophia Just.
He is survived by:daughters Kathy (Dennis) Oberg and Gayle Anderson; Sister-in-Law Shirley (Robert) Anderson; Grandchildren- Nathan Oberg, Rebecca (Rob) Weiler, Jessica (Ben) Just, Angela (Rob) Smedberg, Emily (Adam) Dodge, Rachel Anderson, Janelle Mattson; and 12 great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.