Craig Redalen, age 71, of Northfield, passed away Friday morning, December 14, 2018, at the VA Medical Center in Minneapolis.
Craig Elton Redalen was born February 18, 1947, in Preston, Minn., to Elton and Joyce (Grindland) Redalen. He was raised on the family farm, attended country school, graduated from Lanesboro High School in 1965 and attended Rochester Community College. In 1967 he enlisted in the U.S. Army and rode a frigid train to Fort Eustis, Va., where he underwent airframe training. His first assignment was at Fort Benning, Ga., for “Project Flattop.” As part of Project Flattop he was deployed to Vietnam and served aboard the USNS Corpus Christi Bay. After nine months of serving in southern Vietnam, he received his Honorable Discharge.
On September 9, 1972, Craig married Susan J. Pease at Trinity Episcopal Church in Rock Island, Ill. In June 1974, he received his Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism from the University of Illinois – Champaign-Urbana. Craig accepted a position with the Federal Land Bank and he and Sue moved to Northfield. He worked for Bremer Bank in St. Paul and later as president of the Dundas Bank. In the early 1980s Craig began working as a commercial real estate appraiser, retiring in 2008.
Craig was a member of All Saints Episcopal Church, the Northfield VFW and was active with the VFW Honor Guard. He enjoyed playing guitar, listening to all types of music, cutting wood for his stove, writing, reading novels and travel – especially to the North Shore. He took great interest in keeping up with the happenings in Northfield and spending time with his coffee groups. He was outgoing, social, and a person with varied interests.
Survivors include his wife of 46 years, Susan; his children Brit (Christopher) Redalen-Schultz of Apple Valley and Kai Redalen (Gwen Goddard) of Minneapolis; his granddaughter Stella, his brothers Gary (Beth), Steven (Peggi), Donald, (Penny), Jeffrey (Michelle); his sister Jane (Joe) O’Koren, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister Sharon Asleson.
Services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, December 18, 2018, at All Saints Episcopal Church in Northfield. Visitation will be one hour prior. Military Honors and a reception will follow.
Interment will be in Root Prairie Cemetery, Lanesboro.
Memorials are preferred to All Saints Episcopal Church.
Arrangements are with the Benson & Langehough Funeral Home, www.northfieldfuneral.com.