Daniel "Danny" Akerson

Daniel "Danny" L. Akerson, age 81, Rosholt, passed away Monday, January 15, 2024, in his home.

Visitation will be Saturday, January 20, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. followed by the funeral service at 11:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Lutheran Church in rural Rosholt with Rev. Sheila Pohl officiating. Music will be provided by Lana and Paul Sand.

Urn bearers will be Rod Westby, Mark Pearson, Ted Horning, Norm Carlson, Dale Peterson, Jim Larsen, Dean Brandenburger, and Curt Alsaker.

Burial will be in the St. Joseph Lutheran Cemetery, rural Rosholt.  Military honors will be provided by the Leo American Legion Post 48 of Rosholt and the Read Veflin American Legion Post 180 of New Effington.

After the burial service, lunch will be served at the Rosholt Community Center.  All are welcome to attend.

Daniel LeRoy Akerson was born July 19, 1942, to Robert and Hazle (Pearson) Akerson in Wheaton, MN.  He grew up on a farm south of Rosholt. He attended country school at East Harmon #1 North and high school at the West Central School of Agriculture in Morris, MN.

After graduating in March of 1960, Danny signed up for the Army Reserve and in September he went to Basic Training at Fort Leonard Wood, MO.  He then went on to Fort Dix, NJ, to finish his training.  While on a three-day pass at Fort Dix, he and three of his buddies rented a car and drove to Norfolk, CT, where one of the buddies lived.  There on a blind date, he was introduced to Sandra Moersch.  After a long courtship of writing a lot of letters and Danny going out there to work in the winter, they were married on December 12, 1964.  Danny and Sandy returned to Rosholt to start their married life together farming.  Shawn Tyler was born on May 30, 1969, and Heather Lynn was born January 16, 1977.

Danny was a baptized member of St. Joseph Lutheran Church and spent many years singing in the choir, being on the board a few times, and helping with projects.  He served as treasurer of Harmon Township from 1971 until 2022 and as secretary/treasurer of the Rosholt Community Fire Association from 1981 to 2022.  He was a director on the Rosholt Threshermen Association serving as secretary for a while and enjoyed making shingles and frying pancakes at their breakfast.  Danny enjoyed serving 12 years on the Farmers Elevator Board and watching the changes take place there.

Farming the land and raising a lot of calves from their cows and a few colts from their horses was a great joy for Danny.  He liked building things in his shop during the winter months.

Danny also collected John Deere toys and fixed up a lot of junk toys to add to his collection.  Later, he built 1/16 size horse machinery and sewed the harnesses for the horses pulling them.

Family was very important to him and having the kids home for the holidays was special.

Survivors include his children, Shawn Akerson of Gilbert, AZ, and Heather (Mike Ackerman) Akerson of Wahpeton, ND; grandchildren, Shelley (Austin) Nygaard-Schoen and Draven Richards; and sister, Adrienne (Ted) Horning of Victoria, MN.

Dan was preceded in death by his wife, Sandy in January 2023; parents, Robert and Hazle Akerson; and sister, Arabelle (Leon) Cawelti.