Swede Colquhoun
Funeral services for Alfred “Swede” Colquhoun, 96, of Watford City, N.D., were held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 14, 2012, at the Good Shepherd Home in Watford City, with Pastor Rob Favorite officiating. Interment was in the Schafer Cemetery.
Alfred “Swede” Willard Colquhoun was born April 11, 1915, in Aberdeen, S.D., to David and Anna (Anderson) Colquhoun. Swede was raised at the family home in Temvick, N.D., and attended school there. He helped his dad in the Temvick Elevator while growing up, and then had a mail route with a team of horses for a few years until they consolidated the mail routes.
Swede was united in marriage to Amanda Christine Wagher on Sept. 3, 1938, in Mandan, N.D. They lived in Bismarck where he worked for the State Highway Department and their daughter, Sharleen was born. In 1941, Swede moved his family to Edgemont, S.D. to work in the ammunition dump. In 1942, the family moved to Colstrip, Mont., and helped build the largest coal shovel in the United States. Later, the family moved back home to Temvick where Swede worked in the oil field for Nobel Drilling until 1964. Swede saw, and participated in, many “oil booms” in South Dakota, Colorado, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, and North Dakota. Swede said, “the Watford City oil boom was the biggest” he ever witnessed. While in Hayden, Colo., his son, Thomas, was born.
Swede and Amanda moved to Pomona, Calif., in 1966 and spent time with his sister, Alice, and her husband. He started work as a custodian at the Pomona School District. Swede and Amanda traveled back to North Dakota every August to help with the harvest on the Thompson Farm. Swede enjoyed driving grain truck for his grandson, Travis. In 2000, Swede and Amanda moved to the Horizon Assisted Living in Watford City. The residents became special family that he thought the world of, and he enjoyed his home at the Horizon. Amanda passed away Sept. 12, 2003. Swede became good friends with Doris Olson, a very good companion for him.
Swede died Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 11, 2012, at the St. Alexius Hospital in Bismarck, N.D.
Swede is survived by one daughter, Sharleen (Philip) Thompson, Keene, N.D.; one son, Thomas (Linda Lou) Colquhoun, Fargo, N.D.; sister, Alice Palmer, 102 years old, Michigan; brother, Sam, 94 years old, Arizona; grandsons, Travis (Lisa) Thompson and Thomas Colquhoun; granddaughters, Stephanie (Frank) Pape, Christann (David) Schmid, Stacy (Meyrl) McGee, and Tesa Dee Larsen; 11 great- grandchildren.
Swede is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Amanda; brothers, Donnie and David; and sisters, Ann and Luella.