Lloyd was born on July 23, 1925, on the family farm in Harvey, North Dakota. Like most farmers, his dad raised livestock and crops and his mother was a homemaker. They did what they had to do to be self-sufficient including growing a garden, canning, and butchering. Lloyd particularly remembers enjoying the good German food, and country dishes with ribeye steaks, roasts, and potatoes. He had four siblings: a twin sister and brother and another brother and sister. Life on the farm was hard work but, on Saturdays, they enjoyed going into town to get groceries and visiting up and down Main Street. On Sundays, they attended a country church about a mile away from their farm. The Pastor had to serve a large area and was only able to preach at their Church every third week. Lloyd’s dad served as the interim pastor and would do the sermons in the alternate weeks. Lloyd, his dad, and two other boys from Church sang in a quartet for worship services and funerals. After Church, the neighbors would gather and socialize while the kids played and hunted gophers. One memory of the farm, when he was only nine years old, he was driving the horse with a hay rake when something spooked the horse. It ran away taking out about a quarter-mile of fence posts. Needless to say, his dad was not happy about that!

Lloyd attended a country school through the 8th grade when his dad took him out to help full-time with the farm. Later, working on the farm also deferred him from being drafted into WWII. However, once he turned 21, he voluntarily enlisted and went into the Army. He served for 1 ½ years and was stationed in the US, Philippine’s and Japan. During his service, he played the trombone and guitar in the band.

When Lloyd returned from the military, he worked in Minneapolis for a while. He wanted to become an aeronautical engineer, so he transferred his records to California and moved to Stockton to start school. Unfortunately, his records were incorrect, so he didn’t get the GI Bill. Instead, he got vocational rehabilitation and a pension as he was injured in the war. Since he couldn’t go to school, he found a job with the South Pacific Railroad in the Bay area. Then he started working as a glazer (glass man).

One day, Lloyd and his buddy, Harold, went for a drive. They decided to stop and talk to one of Harold’s friends and her roommate. The roommate came out of the house in her bathrobe with her hair in curlers thinking it was her cousin Harold. She was surprised to learn that it was the wrong Harold visiting. Lloyd was intrigued and asked Naomi out for a date. They dated for about six months before they got married.

Lloyd and Naomi lived in California for about 31 years, first in Stockton then in Lodi where Lloyd worked, and later retired from, General Mills. Together, they raised a son, Jim, who is a chiropractor and lived in Utah. Their daughter, Jeanne, lives in St. Cloud and works at the St. Cloud Hospital. They have eight grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and one great, great-grandchild. Lloyd and Naomi traveled throughout Minnesota, North Dakota, Iowa, California, and Utah and took one memorable cruise to Mexico. Lloyd liked the cruise and would love to go again. He found out he has an affinity for dolphins. They seem to appear any time he is around.

Lloyd was active in Cub Scouts. He became Assistant Scout Manager, then Commissioner and finally District Commissioner for about 11 years. He enjoyed the Scouts and working with the boys. He enjoyed playing golf and fishing. He has also had a life-long love of music and has continued playing electric guitar. Although Lloyd loves to play, he can’t read music.

When the gangs got bad in California, they moved back to Valley City, North Dakota for a while. After Naomi passed away, he moved to Utah to live closer to his son’s family. When Lloyd felt that Utah was getting “too big for a country boy,” he moved back to Minnesota to be closer to his daughter’s family.

When asked what he has been most dedicated to in his life, he responded, “my wife and family.” He said he’s had a very good life, a wonderful marriage, and is quite frankly, “surprised I’ve made it to 2020.”

Lloyd moved into Good Shepherd about two years ago. He feels good and can get around on his scooter, staying active by volunteering, attending activities, and playing Canasta Hand and Foot with three neighbor lady friends.
He also spread cheer as Santa over the holidays, visiting residents and tenants across campus.

We are proud that Lloyd calls Good Shepherd home.