Jesse Tollakson, of Dawson, died Wednesday, November 21, 2012, as the result of an automobile accident near Clara City, MN, at the age of 29.
Funeral service was 2:00 PM, Monday, November 26, 2012, at Grace Lutheran Church in Dawson with Pastor Kendall Stelter officiating; a personal tribute to Jesse was by Chris Larson; the Randy Aiken CD of I’ve Been Watching You was played during a video tribute; Pastor Kendall read Psalm 23, Romans 5:1-5, and John 14; and organist, Chris Lehne accompanied the congregational hymns: Amazing Grace, On Eagle’s Wings and My Life Flows On In Endless Song and Jon Wager singing Come to Jesus. Casketbearers were Todd Larson, Tony Tollakson, Steven Schwartz, Andrew Hatheway, Joshua Beninga, Dan Lewis, Nick Gruwell, and Alex Anderson and the honorary were Robert Beck, Larry Tollakson, Allan Larson, Scott Erickson, Gino Gargiulo, Kevin Hickey, Rob Mahrer, Josh Owens, Vinny Tucci, and Comrades in the 1st Squadron of the 221st Cavalry Wildhorse. Interment was in Grace Lutheran Cemetery with military honors by an honor guard from the active Army, the American Legion Post 177 and VFW Post 5247 of Dawson and American Legion Post 59 of Montevideo.
Visitation wa Sunday, November 25 at Hanson & Dahl Funeral Home from 4-7:00 PM with a prayer service at 6:30 PM and at the church for one hour before the service.
Jesse John Tollakson was born January 25, 1983 at Dawson, MN the son of David Tollakson and Tamara Erickson. He was baptized and confirmed at Grace Lutheran Church and graduated from Dawson - Boyd High School in 2001. He enlisted in the MN Army National Guard and was called into active duty and served with the 221st Cavalry in Afghanistan. He returned in February of 2010. He was united in marriage with Lynette Gross June 24, 2006 at Rapid City, SD. He enjoyed truck driving, towing, farming, working out, riding motorcycle, playing cards and working the veteran’s booth at the fair. Family was always very important to him.
He is survived by his wife, Lynette; two sons: Chandler and Chastin; his mother, Tamara Erickson of Hampton Bays, NY; his father, David Tollakson of Dawson, MN; his grandmother, Agnes Erickson of Dawson, MN; his grandparents, Orville and Alice Tollakson of Dawson, MN; his parents-in-law, LeRoy and Carol Gross of Murdo, SD; brother-in-law, LeRoy (Kristy) Gross III; sister-in-law, Lori (John) Oerlline; aunts and uncles: Judy (Alan) Larson, Scott Erickson, Susan Kuchera, Robert (Pam) Beck, Larry Tollakson, Tony (Terri) Tollakson, Janet Tollakson, Sue (Carol) Benike, Keith (Julie) Weigandt, Larry (Dorothy) Wiegandt, Karen (Bruce) Royer, and Kevin Weigandt; and numerous cousins.
Preceding him in death were his grandfather, Lester Erickson; uncles: Steven Erickson and John Tollakson; and cousins: Jonathon Erickson and Travis Boerboom.