Arlo Wynn Svedberg

There will be a gathering of family and friends at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Monday, May 20, 2024 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with Military Honors at 6:30 p.m. 

Arlo W. Svedberg of Devils Lake ND passed away on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, at CHI, St. Alexius Health, Devils Lake Hospital with family at his side. 

Arlo Wynn, son of Alfred and Effie (Ellingson) Svedberg was born on July 13, 1939, in Arvilla, ND. He grew up and was educated in Larimore, ND graduating from Larimore High School with the class of 1957. He was an outstanding football player in high school and was offered a full football scholarship to play at ND Agricultural College (now NDSU) in Fargo. 

Arlo turned down that scholarship to serve his country. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corp on August 22, 1957. He served stateside at Camp Pendelton, California where he played Marine Corps League Football and was a Marksmanship Instructor. Arlo was honorably discharged with the rank of Lance Corporal on August 21, 1960. 

Arlo worked with his Dad and brother in the home construction business for a time before moving to Grand Forks, ND. Arlo was a fire fighter for the city of Grand Forks for several years. Unfortunately, he sustained several injuries as a firefighter which caused mobility problems so had to retire in 1975. Arlo worked as a Fire Inspector for Boeing after training in Seattle, working there, then transferred back to North Dakota and was a fire inspector at local missile sites. 

Arlo took classes at AVTI (Area Vocational Technical Institute) in East Grand Forks in the areas of transportation and parts management. He later decided to attend the ND State School of Science in Wahpeton, ND, where he graduated with a Degree in Journalism and printing. 

Arlo was employed by Community News which owned and operated several local newspapers, including the Northwood Gleaner, Larimore Pioneer, McVille Journal and Trail County Tribune and more. Arlo was in charge of sales, news coverage, writer, photographer and the typesetter for the Northwood Gleaner and the Larimore Pioneer. He did it all. He brought the completed newspaper to Casselton ND where it was printed and he returned them to Northwood for distribution. He received 29 First Place Awards from the North Dakota Newspaper Association for his photography and news reporting throughout his career. 

Arlo was united in marriage to Darlene Thoreson on June 14, 1974, in East Grand Forks. They made their homes in Grand Forks, Thompson, Wahpeton, and Northwood until moving to Devils Lake in 1995. 

Arlo served his country with honor and his motto was "Once a Marine, always a Marine. That meant he always put his heart and soul into every endeavor, always did the best he could to provide for his family, and he treasured his friends.

Arlo is survived by those he so dearly loved. His wife Darlene; daughters Amy Mastrud, Grand Forks,  ND and Erika (Jason) Patzer, Thonotosassa, FL; son Christian (Sandra) Svedberg, Devils Lake; grandchildren Brianna Thoreson, Austin Mastrud,  Sierra Mastrud, Brady Patzer, Elizabeth Svedberg, Madison Svedberg; four great grandchildren Penelope, Teegan, Tenley, and Taetum; sister Bonnie (Terry) Heaton; mother-in-law Muriel Thoreson, Devils Lake; sister-in-law Diane (Robert) Alexander, brother-in-law Brad Thoreson; children from his first marriage Lorilee, Nathan, and Michal and several grandchildren and great grandchildren; many nieces, nephew, and cousins. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, father-in-law Ted Thoreson, son-in-law Kevin Mastrud, sister-in-law Kathy Thoreson, siblings Arden, Marvin, Alfred Jr., Elvice, Doris, Ila, Elvie, and Evone. 

Arlo is in the care of the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake. Services are pending.