Atkinson  Family

EAST OTTER TAIL COUNTY VOL II 1994

Page 016

 

FRED D. ATKINSON

        Fred D. Atkinson, the third son of Robson C. Atkinson, was born in 1886 in Henning , MN . And grew up on a farm outside New York Mills. He became a barber and married Daisy Kindred in 1907. He lived in Wadena, Henning and Dent, Glyndon , MN . And Gardner , N.D. for several years and finally settled in New York Mills in 1925. His family of eight children all grew up and attended schools in Mills.

        Lawrence, the oldest son, became a barber and ran a business in Mankato , MN until his death in 1977. Clayton too followed his father�s footsteps as a barber and also was affiliated with Paul�s Tavern in Perham. Orris graduated as an honor student from Mills High, attended Gustavus Adolphus College , St. Peter , MN where he had an outstanding career as an athlete and was inducted into College�s Athletic �Hall of Fame� in 1984. He later attended Graduate School at Springfield College in Springfield , Mass. During World War Two, he served as an officer aboard LST 460 in the South Pacific Campaign. After the war, he joined the Veteran Administration in hospital work. He also participated in the Naval Air Reserve program and retired as a Captain. Berton, Fred�s youngest son, graduated from N. Y. Mills High School . He served 0with the Navy during WWII in the North Atlantic . Following the war, he attended and graduated from the University of Minn. Later he worked in a U.S. Navy weather project and for several years was Assoc. Director of Coffman Union at the U of M. In his honor, when he retired, the University set up a Special Permanent Display concerning his great work for the University.

        Fred�s four daughters also grew up in New York Mills, Mildred, the oldest, married Harland Johnson and lives in Sandstone, MN, Adeline married Stanley Hagen of Battle Lake, MN, and lived in Fergus Falls, MN, until his death in 1951. Violet married James Dumont of Bluffton , MN and lives in St. Cloud , MN , Vivian married Reuben Hepola of Mills and now lives in Butte , MT.

        Fred Atkinson was a great lover of sports. He managed several baseball teams in Mills, was General Manager of the original �Flying Finns� basketball teams which had a great record. He served as Mayor of Mills for several terms. Fred passed away in 1940 at the age of 51.