Justus Everett LEGVOLD

LEGVOLD, COLTVET, HENDERSON, OLSON, NELSON, MAROTZ, KENNEDY

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 12/31/2010 at 11:09:39

July 6, 1913 -- December 29, 2010

Eagle Grove – Justus E. “Jay” Legvold

Justus Everett Legvold, the son of Hans and Caroline (Henderson) Legvold, was born July 6, 1913, on a farm near Frost, Minnesota, the fourth of six children. He was raised and educated in the local rural school and Bricelyn High School. He then attended Iowa State University and graduated with a degree in Agronomy in 1939. While attending ISU, Justus worked as an Assistant Soil Chemistry Lab Instructor, Iowa Soil Surveyor, and University Soil Survey Instructor.

On July 6, 1941, Jay was united in marriage with his college sweetheart, Alice Coltvet of Eagle Grove. To this union, three children were born: Steven, Kathryn and James. Alice preceded Jay in death in July 1975. Jay married Jodella (Olson) Nelson in September 1976. Following graduation, he was hired as a farm manager and land appraiser in Minnesota. He was inducted into the Air Corp in 1942 and educated in radio mechanics at St. Louis University, soon afterwards, Jay was teaching radio mechanics for the Army. Jay served overseas for the U.S. army during the occupation of Japan. After the war, he was hired as a fertilizer salesman and a few years later, he was asked to operate the Coltvet family farm west of Eagle Grove, Iowa.

Jay was an active member of the Eagle Grove Evangelical Lutheran Church where he served as a church deacon and church president. Over the years, Jay was involved in many community activities: 4-H, softball coach, President of Eagle Grove Ag-Urban Committee, Eagle Grove Rotary Club, Eagle Grove Planning & Zoning committee, Eagle Grove Farm-City Promotion Committee, Vice-Chair of Eagle Grove Foundation for the Future, President of Eagle Grove Board of Adjustment, and Eagle Grove Chamber of Commerce Volunteer. Jay also served on many Wright County Boards: Farm Bureau, Extension Service, Soil Conservation Service and organized the Wright County Soybean Association plus many of the surrounding counties. He was active in the Iowa Soybean Association and participated in a trade promotion visit to China in 1978. One of Jay’s favorite activities was promoting his Norwegian heritage through the Sons of Norway.

Jay passed away on Wednesday, December 29, 2010, at Rotary Ann Nursing Home in Eagle Grove, at the age of 97 years. He was also preceded in death by his parents; brothers, William and Ole and sisters, Frances and Mildred. Survivors include his wife, Jodella; son Steven and wife Deborah of Apple Valley, MN and grandsons Eric and Brian; daughter Kathryn and husband Wayne Marotz of Sandy, UT, grandson Ryan and wife Sarah, great-grandsons Zachary and Gabriel and granddaughter Heather; son James and wife Laurel of Vincent, IA, granddaughter Danielle Kennedy and husband Justin and grandson Brett and wife Kathryn; sister Charlotte Legvold and two step-sons, Judine and Ronald Nelson and their families.

Funeral services will be on Tuesday, January 4, 2011, at 10:30 a.m. at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Eagle Grove with Pastor Paul Stone officiating. Visitation will be Monday from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Foust Funeral Home in Eagle Grove. Burial will be in the Rose Hill Cemetery in Eagle Grove. Memorials may be left to the discretion of the family.