Albert Melvin LEWISON, Sr.

LEWISON, BAUDENDISTLE, FRAME

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:43

August 31, 1905 ---- August 28, 1995

Albert Melvin Lewison, Sr. was born on August 31, 1905 in Clarion, Iowa, the son of Lewis and Catherine (Baudendistle) Lewison. He was raised in West Saint Paul, MN where he was active in Boy Scouts and graduated from Humboldt High School in the Class of 1924. He met Nellie May Frame while employed by the Chicago Great Western Railroad and working at the depot in Randolph, MN. Nellie was the school teacher at the Lewiston School, a rural one room country school west of Randolph. Al serenaded Nellie by playing music on his "Victrola" outside the Lewiston School while Nellie was teaching. Al and Nellie were married on June 22, 1929 at Nellie's parent's farm home south of Randolph, MN. They lived all of their married lives in Randolph.

He was railroader, employed with the Chicago Great Western Railroad, retiring from the railroad after 25 years. He later was employed by the State of Minnesota. Lastly, he worked with the Joint Railway Agency in South Saint Paul, MN retiring in 1966.

Al was a former mayor and justice of the peace in Randolph. He was a member of the Masonic Oriental Lodge #34, the Osman Shrine Temple, the Eastern Star, and the Randolph Methodist Church. Al was an outdoorsman, a musician, an entertainer, a craftsman, a photographer, a family man, a Scout Master for the Boy Scouts, and friend to all. He and Nellie enjoyed outdoor activities including fishing, hunting pheasants, and camping. They fished from an Old Town canvas canoe, and camped with a homemade two wheel trailer. They later took up boating. Al played the violin and bones and taught himself to play the musical saw. He and a good friend entertained many groups with their unique music, a musical saw accompanied by a piano. They also entertained on an early "Prairie Home Companion" radio show. He was an accomplished woodcraftsman and made jewelry with stones that he cut, polished, and assembled in his basement.

Al died August 28, 1995 at age 89 at the Northfield Hospital Dilley Skilled Nursing Facility. He was survived by one son, Albert Jr. "Bert" (Pam) Lewison of Minnetonka. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Nellie; and two infant sons. Nellie died on September 5, 1994 at age 90. Al and Nellie had been married over 65 years. Both are interred at Acacia Park Cemetery in Mendota Heights, MN.