The funeral for Rolland Sjostrom, Kulm, North Dakota will be held Saturday, March 21, 2015 at the Assembly of God Church, Kulm, ND at 2:00 PM. Visitation will be held Friday, March 20, 2015 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM with a prayer service at 7:00 at Dahlstrom Funeral Home, Kulm, ND. Burial will be at the Kulm Assembly of God Cemetery, Kulm, ND.

Rolland Agdon Sjostrom was born in Swede Township to Simon and Hannah (Malm) Sjostrom on February 3, 1921, the oldest of six children. The family lived on various farms, and Rolland attended schools in Swede, Raney, and Norden Townships. Rolland's mother passed away in 1935, and in 1936 he went to live with Carl and Gussie Carlson, his uncle and aunt. In 1941 he went to work for Alex Johnson and worked there until he entered the US Army in July of 1942. He served in the army for over three years, and was a lineman in the signal corp. For one year he was stationed in the Panama Canal region, where he contracted malaria. Rolland then served in Europe and the states. One day while practicing with hand grenades at Fort Astes, Virginia, another service man threw a grenade that hit Rolland in the forehead. He was struck unconscious and lay in the hospital for 14 days before regaining consciousness. Rolland accepted the Lord as his Savior in 1945 and was baptized in water the following year. It was while he was home on furlough from the army that he met Vernette Johnson, and they described it as "love at first sight." After his discharge from the army, they were married June 3, 1946 at the Kulm Gospel Tabernacle by Pastor Clayton Scharnberg. Following the wedding, a shivaree and reception were held at the Carl and Gussie Carlson home. The couple made their first home with the Carlsons. In November of 1946, they moved to a nearby farm, where Rolland worked his own crops, while continuing to work for Carl and Leslie Carlson. The Sjostrom farm offered very few conveniences, but yielded a lifetime of memories and stories recounted tirelessly by their children, all of whom were born during those years. In the winter of 1959, Rolland and Vernette and their children moved to the Johnson Bros. farm, which was Vernette's home place. Rolland worked as a farm hand and mechanic on the farm until his retirement in 1990, when they moved into a lovely new home in the town of Kulm. After 46 years of marriage, Vernette passed away in November of 1992. After retirement, Rolland kept busy for many years, lending his services as an experienced farm hand to the younger farmers in the area. He also wore out more than one riding lawnmower, keeping the vacant lots of Kulm neatly mowed. He never was a man who liked to sit around. He did, however, find more time in his later years to get to know his children and grandchildren on a deeper level. Rolland was very proud of his family, and it was his greatest delight to spend time with them. His friends were also very important to him, and he could often be found holding court at the local cafes. In October of 2013 Rolland moved into the Veterans Home in Lisbon, ND. Even in that setting, it was not long until he had gathered a coffee group around himself. He was a longtime member of Kulm Assembly of God, and was a man of deep faith, a source of inspiration and example for his family.

Rolland passed away Friday, March 13, 2015 at the North Dakota Veterans Home in Lisbon, ND. He was 94 years old.

Rolland is survived by sons, MSgt (ret) Larry (Donna) Sjostrom, Niceville, FL and Rev. David (Connie) Sjostrom, Grafton, ND; daughter, Leanne, MSgt (ret) (Arthur) Duncklee, North Pole, AK; grandchildren, Rennae Sjostrom (Nelson) de Freitas, Midlothian, TX, Troy (Jennifer) Sjostrom, Niceville, FL, Grant (Kim) Sjostrom, Lynnwood, WA, Ryan (Megan) Sjostrom, Houston, TX, Tyler Sjostrom, Appleton, WI, Davy (Cassie) Sjostrom, Bismarck, ND, Craig Duncklee, North Pole, AK, Aaron (Cari) Dunklee, Jefferson City, MO, Katina Dunklee (Brandy) Sammons, North Pole, AK; eleven great grandchildren and one great-great granddaughter; brothers, Morris, Kulm, ND, Lloyd (Alida), Lyle (Evelyn), Jamestown, ND; sisters, Verna Mae Sauers, Salem, OR, Priscilla Brewer, Gladys Fercho, Jamestown, ND; brother-in-law, Jonathan (Elsie) Liechty, Jamestown, ND; sister-in-law, Marilyn (Paul) Gage, Fargo, ND and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, brothers, Harley and Merle, sisters Hazel and Mavis, brothers-in-law, Connie Johnson, Bertil Johnson, Claus Johnson, Evert Johnson, Roy Johnson, Paul Johnson, Stanley Johnson, and Elwood Johnson, sisters-in-law, Alice Lindgren, Sylvia Edstrom, Judith Loven, Lillet Sjostrom, and Fern Liechty. Share memories and sign online guestbook at www.dahlstromfuneralservice.com. Dahlstrom Funeral Home, Kulm, ND entrusted with arrangements.