Alvin Behn

Sunday, November 8, 2020 4:26 pm

Alvin F. Behn, age 78, of Dorchester, died Tuesday, Oct.27, 2020 at the Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse, Wis.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020 at Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah. This will be followed by a private family service. In consideration of concerns regarding COVID-19 and our city mandate, social distancing and face masks or shields are required to attend. 

Alvin Franklin Behn was born on Nov. 20, 1941 in Hampton, Iowa, the son of Paul William and Mary Alice (Wickham) Behn. He spent his early years living on a farm in Sheffield. In 1945 at the age of 3, the family purchased a farm in Frankville, Iowa, which they called Rose Harbor. His parents raised purebred Holstein cattle, purebred Yorkshire hogs, A.K.C. American Eskimos and Registered American Saddlebreds. Alvin attended the Frankville Village School through 5^thgrade and finished 8^thgrade at the McKay school. Alvin graduated from Decorah High School with the class of 1959.

Alvin was united in marriage to Sandra (Sandy) Krambeer in 1961 and were blessed with one son Mark. The marriage later ended in divorce. 

In February 1962, Alvin was hired at DECO products in Decorah. In 1995 he was promoted to Department Manager/Maintenance Foreman and remained in that position until he retired in February 2011. He had many life-long friends from working there for 49 years. In 1971 Alvin married Katherine Erickson at the Little Brown Church in Nashua. There were no children from this marriage and it later ended in divorce, but they remained friends. 

Alvin also worked for various farmers over the years. He was a good mechanic and could fix family vehicles and farm equipment. He loved his motorcycles, working on his Fords and Buick cars and did some stock car racing.  

Alvin then married Barbara Nesset in 1973 and were blessed with three daughters: Lori, Jennifer, and Malinda. They later divorced. In 1994, Alvin and his children moved to Dorchester.

Alvin was hard working, extremely helpful and was a great teacher, willing to show people how to do things. He was an enthusiastic outdoorsman who loved hunting, fishing, running, riding horses and being outdoors! He loved fishing in Canada, elk hunting in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, watching western movies and everything Winchester. He was a great storyteller, telling some of the best jokes he had heard just to see you laugh. He was kind, compassionate, fun loving, strong, a great father, grandfather, and a great friend who had a heart of gold.

Alvin died Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020 at the Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse, Wis., at the age of 78. He was preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Mary Alice Behn; his first wife Sandy; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.  

Alvin is survived by his brother, David Behn of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; his sister Lani (Arthur) Wallace of Erieau, Ontario, Canada; his son Mark Behn of Florida; three daughters: Lori Piquet of Nevada, Jennifer Behn and Malinda Behn of Dorchester; and seven grandchildren: Austin, Aaron, Tristan, Tyler, Tanner, Kaylee and Taylor. 

Memorials may be given to the charity of your choice or to the family. Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah is serving the family. Online condolences may be made at www.fjelstul.com.