Henry (Hank) Rolland Slotsve

Hank was born on May 11,1925 to Pete and Elsie Slotsve at home on the Slotsve farm in Ashby MN, born in the same home as his dad. He grew up on the farm with his brother Jim coming two years later and sister Janice being born when Hank was eleven.

There are many stories about his life on the farm, here are a few. When Hank was a young boy, his dog Buddy and him would go out to the creek in the back fields. One day Buddy returned without Hank to their home, finding Elsie, Buddy brought his mom to him in the fields. Buddy helped save Hank’s life that day as it was a late fall day. When Hank was about 2 1/2 his dad had accidentally run over Hank’s head with the wagon. They brought Hank to Dr. Randall, who lived next door to Grandma and Grandpa Slotsve in Ashby as Hank had almost had his ear cut off. Dr. Randall took care of Hank’s ear and when done Hank stood at the top of the stairs and called Dr. Randall every nasty word he had ever heard. Up until that time, Hank had never spoken a word! Life on the farm had an outhouse, so bath time was a square wash tub in the kitchen, Hank was always first in and Jim got the dirty water. When Hank and Jim were kids they went barefoot all summer and went to bed often with manure between their toes. When Hank and Jim went to school they took their Grandpa Slotsve’s buggy and horse Max to school and tied him up at their great uncles across from the school. Hank and Jim would also take Max out for a drive and try to get him lost, but he could always find his way home. Hank always loved staying with Grandma Slotsve in town during the winter, a favorite memory of his. It was a happy day when Hank discovered a letter with the Sears Roebuck or Montgomery Ward address on it in their kitchen on the farm. He and Jim were very curious as they were sure Elsie was ordering something for them, and so, of course, they had to find out what it was. To their surprise, it was not an order for them but rather an order for baby clothes. The year was 1936, and it was just a few months before Janice was born. But they were “thrilled” to quote Hank, and all had a lot of fun with the new addition to the family. Hank loved his brother and sister very much. His brother Jim passed away at just 61, Hank was looking forward to when both were retired so they could enjoy time together but that was not to be. Hank always had a soft spot for his little sister Janice. They didn’t have many years together on the farm but the love they had for each other was evident. Throughout all the years were visits and so many phone calls one lost count, they would reminisce about the past and the people they knew.

Hank did not enjoy farm life. In December 1941 Pearl Harbor was attacked by the Japanese starting WWII, Hank wanted to immediately enlist and go fight in the war. Hank was in high school at the time and he pestered his dad and mom to join, Pete wouldn’t sign for him as he was needed on the farm. Finally in 1943 when Hank was entering his senior year in high school, Pete told Elsie to get him a sheet of paper, and he would sign for him. Hank had turned 18 in May of 1943 and in the fall of 1943 he joined the United States Navy. He crewed on the USS King DD-242 April 11,1944 to October 26, 1945 and crewed on the USS Missouri BB-63 January 23, 1946 to September 20, 1946. The USS Missouri departed the U.S. on March 22, 1946 and steamed eastwards. On March 31, it arrived at Gibraltar and became flagship to Admiral Henry Kent Hewitt, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe, and Commander, 12th fleet. The Missouri was at Istanbul, Turkey April 5-9 1946, where members of her crew participated in Ambassador Ertegun’s funeral ceremonies as the Missouri had carried the Ambassador’s remains from the U.S. to Turkey. The Missouri subsequently visited ports in Greece, Italy, Algiers and Morocco before returning to the United States in early May, having successfully reestablished the U.S. Navy’s presence in what soon became the “Cold War” home waters of the Sixth Fleet. The USS Missouri was most famous for the signing of the Instrument of Surrender between Japan and the Allied Nations in Tokyo Bay on September 2, 1945. On a footnote as children of Hank we did not discover until in recent years that our dad did not graduate high school as he had joined the Navy his senior year of high school. Dad went to trade school in the early 1950’s to become a tool and die maker but always wanted his diploma. In 1974 dad received his GED, the same year his second child Diane graduated from high school. Dad proved it’s never too late to accomplish a goal.

Hank met Ardis Lee through one of her friends who was a cousin of dads. They met prior to Hank going to war. Each of them had a different story of how they met, it was fun to listen to them insist their story was the right one. They dated for six years before Ardis gave Hank an ultimatum “Either we get married or I’m walking”. Dad said he never thought about getting married because he didn’t have a full time career. After the war Hank worked on the ore boats on the Great Lakes, many of their dating years Hank was gone, either in the service or Ardis would visit often to see him in Duluth when he was home from the ore boats. After they got engaged Hank went down to the “cities” and started an apprenticeship with his cousin as a tool and die maker so he could begin his career. They moved to St. Paul in a little apartment right after they married. Dad remembered that mom wasn’t a good cook at first but then she bought a pressure cooker and made the most delicious meals, Hank loved her cooking. They went on to have four children, Doug, Diane, Pam and Rick. Pam has always felt honored as dad named her while mom named the rest of us. We spent most holidays and summers up on the Slotsve farm or in town at Ardis’s family home. We were always the city kids and the small town kids were intrigued with us as we were with them. We lived a simple idyllic life being able to enjoy both city and small town life growing up. Ardis passed in 2005 and we were reminded often by dad how much he loved our mom, they were quite the pair. They were married 53 years, serving as great examples of having a loving, long and prosperous marriage. Ardis the extrovert while Hank was the introvert but a perfect match for each other.

Hank always wanted to own his own business and created Die Mold Products utilizing his tool and die trade skills. He did it all, did cold calls, sold the job, drafted meticulous specifications for the tools and dies he would make, did the billing and also was the bill collector. His business was in the Rossmor Building in downtown St. Paul, the smell of steel shavings and loud machines is still a fond memory. As kids we would take the bus downtown to his shop and always get a pop out his old fashioned bottled pop machine that you would have to slide through the grates to get. If you were lucky, he would slip you some money to shop downtown. Doug and Diane even became his employees with Doug working in the shop and Diane learning bookkeeping. He sold his business and continued to work until 1990 in tool and die. He would often say “I can’t believe I’ve been retired for over 30 years”.

Hank had many many hobbies throughout the years. He loved to fish, so much so they bought a lake lot near Dalton MN so they could retire there to fish and enjoy the area they grew up in. Lots of fishing with mom, Doug and Rick throughout the years. Rick had the good fortune to be fishing with dad on Mille Lacs Lake taking Rick’s new Ford 1999 E150 Waldoch Conversion Van, it turned out that was the good luck charm when they caught an incredible Muskie, it was so impressive, 21-22 lbs. It was taxidermies and hung proudly in their den. Hank made a boat in the basement of our family home in the 1960’s. It was a Class A Racing Hull made out of mahogany wood and fiberglass. It had to be small enough to go up the stairway and out the backdoor. It never had any controls but he enjoyed working with his hands and building it. Hank’s first experiences with learning how to fly was in the navy when his ship would dock for liberty, he would head to the naval or marine air station where he learned to fly with a “gunny”. He had an Aeronca 11 Chief in the late 1950’s, early 1960’s. Diane was the only child that would fly with him. It was fun to fly over the neighborhood and see all the neighborhood kids playing outside. Hank was also a passionate ham radio operator. He had quite the set up in their bedroom with stacks of radios, antennas and miles of wires. Hank spent hours talking to people all over the world over the years. He really enjoyed learning about different people and countries. Hank loved music, Herb Albert and the TJB was often played on the turntable at home when we were children and in older years Andre` Rue, a violinist and conductor was a favorite of his. Hank played piano, keyboard, violin and was a pretty darn good accordion player. Lots of childhood memories and beyond of him playing that big accordion with most likely Lawerence Welk in the background. Hank’s love of tool and die never ceased, he created a workshop in the basement of their home making many things but he really enjoyed making steam engines, he won 5 Blue Ribbons at the MN State Fair for them. He also made 2 steam powered trains that are intricate and stunning. Hank had an artistic side, creating oil paintings he would proudly display in their home. In his retirement years, it seemed as though he could do anything. Hank had a brilliant mind, always wanting to learn more, he loved to read especially about WWII and the Civil War. When Hank retired Ardis was taking care of their first grandchild Nicole, they took her everywhere. She especially liked going in their “ban” (van) on road trips near Dalton MN to their lake lot. Trees were tended to, the lawn was mowed and lots of room for her to run and play. They also took care of Rick’s children Max and Jada and Pam’s boys Jake and Grant. Then came Nicole’s son Gage, their first great grandchild, we often wondered how they managed to care for Pam and Rick’s children along with Nicole’s son as they were all within 5 years of each other in age. Precious time spent in helping with the grandkids was appreciated by us. They made time to go “out west” to Wyoming to visit Doug and his children Christina and Jason. Then Doug had a new marriage to Kaoru and more trips to Wyoming, Doug and Kaoru would come here to visit also and a few years after mom passed they had their son Tai. We still look forward to our older brother's visits every year coming “home”. Ardis loved children, all children and loved having them at their home, Hank might have wanted a little more peace and quiet but always went along with what she wanted and needed. We are grateful for their time with our children as we never had to worry and the love they provided was unmatched.

Hank had the thrill of a lifetime at 96 years young on September 4, 2021 to fly in a two-seater Boeing 1942 White Stearman biplane through Dream Flights. Dream Flights have given more than 4,200 flights to veterans and seniors living in long-term communities since 2011, all complimentary. Hank had not walked unassisted for many years. His mode of transportation was his scooter. We couldn’t believe our eyes when the pilot and her husband guided him up on the wing and into the two-seater plane. He had the biggest widest smile on his face, this flight sure added some pep to his life.

Hank often asked in the last months how many people are in our immediate family. Twenty six we would say and he would respond he couldn’t believe 2 people, mom and him would go on to have helped create so many people. It’s true! He had 4 children, 8 grandchildren, 4 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren! Plus you have to add spouses of his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Family was always most important to both of our parents, especially gatherings with our grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. Huge family holiday dinners were made since the very beginning and we have done our best to keep up the tradition. Our parents were Norwegian, stoic some may say, affection was not shown in public and it wasn’t until our mom was diagnosed with cancer that we hugged and said I love you’s every time we saw each other. After mom passed dad always expressed his love and appreciation for the help provided to him from us. We will miss those hugs and kisses on the cheek and rubbing his head full of gorgeous hair. Hank lived a full meaningful life, leaving behind a beautiful family he loved and we loved him, filled with wonderful memories.

Funeral Service will be held Wednesday, October 25, 2023 at 12:00 pm with Visitation one hour prior to service, from 11 am - 12 pm, at Wulff Woodbury Funeral Home, 2195 Woodlane Dr., Woodbury, MN 55125. A luncheon will immediately follow the service at the funeral home. Interment with Military Honors will follow at Union Cemetery, Maplewood.

In lieu of flowers memorials preferred to Grant County Veterans Memorial, c/o Grant County Museum, PO Box 1002, Elbow Lake, MN 56531.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.WulffWoodburyFuneralHome.com for the Slotsve family.