Allen Undem
Allen Niel Undem, age 57, of Park Rapids died on Tuesday, March 7 in Fargo, ND with his family by his side.
Allen was born on April 3, 1948 in Melrose, MN to Conrad and Else (Miller) Undem. Allen grew up in Little Sauk, MN, Arlington, SD, Dickinson, ND and eventually the family settled in Park Rapids, MN. After graduating from Park Rapids High School in 1966, he attended North Dakota State University. Allen graduated with a degree in Pharmacy in 1971.
On April 22, 1972, Allen was united in marriage to Marcia H. Petterson in Fargo, ND. Allen and Marcia moved to Park Rapids where Allen worked as a pharmacist at Park Drug. He became a partner in the drug store and continued to work there until 1985. Allen returned to college at Bemidji State University and graduated in 1991 with a BA in Journalism. He worked at the Park Rapids Enterprise from 1991 to 2003 as a reporter, columnist, and the opinion page editor.
Allen was a renaissance man with many interests. He loved to hunt and fish with friends and family.
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Music was a passion: singing in the choir, going to the symphony, "air-conducting," and playing "name that tune." Allen's gift of writing touched many lives through his work at the newspaper and through his eloquent notes, letters, and poems to family members and friends. He enjoyed acting in high school and college plays, and most recently, in the Northern Light Opera Company's production of "The Mikado." Allen was a member of the Park Rapids Jaycees and Lions Club.
Allen will be remembered by his wife Marcia Undem of Park Rapids; his son. Bret Undem and his wife, Cathy of Eagan, MN; his daughter, Tresa Undem and her partner, Colleen of Washington, DC; his mother, Else Hinds of Hubbard, MN; four brothers, Roger Undem of Mora, MN, Dave Undem and his wife, Kathy of Mora, MN, Tom Undem of Park Rapids, MN, and Brad Undem and his wife, Nancy, of Bel Air, MD; two sisters: Jeanne Hinds and her husband Jim of Ely, MN and Bev Rasmussen and her husband Jens Erik of Heden, Denmark; and two grandchildren: Hunter and Blake.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 11, 2006 at Calvary Lutheran Church in Park Rapids, with Rev. Bill Meyer and Rev. Gene Broughton officiating.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, March 10, 2006 at Jones-Pearson Funeral Home in Park Rapids with a 6:30 p.m. service and for one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday.
The internment will be at Bethel Cemetery.
