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June 15, 1935-March 13, 2021
Alvin 'Al' Finneseth, 85,
Velva, died Saturday,
March 13, 2021 in his
home surrounded by his
loving family.
Alvin was born June 15,
1935 in Minot, ND to Ar-
vith and Irene (Solberg)
Finneseth. He was raised
in the Sawyer, ND area
and graduated from
Sawyer High School in
1953.
Alvin enlisted into the
US Marine Corps on Au-
gust 10, 1956. He served
honorably and was
transferred from active
duty service in August of
1958, completing his mili-
tary career as a Corporal
on July 25, 1962.
Al was united in mar-
riage to Eleanor Jylen on
September 18, 1959 in
Minot. Eleanor passed
away on December 16,
2017.
Al completed his degree
at Minot State Teacher's
College in 1960 and
moved to Carrington, ND
to start his teaching
career. In 1962, Al landed
a job with the University
of Colorado in Boulder.
He went back to school
and earned a master's de-
gree. Then went on to re-
ceive his Ph.D in Busi-
ness. In 1967, He became
assistant hospital ad-
ministrator in Los
Alamos, NM serving the
facility for a year until
landing in Worland, WY
working as administrator
until 1970. Al moved his
family north to Alaska,
where he served Fair-
banks Memorial Hospital
as administrator for six
years. Al took on the role
of a regional administrator
in Mesa, AZ where he
managed several hospitals
for a couple years until re-
turning to Alaska in 1978
as CEO for the Denali
Medical Clinics. He held
this position until 1985
until transferring to the
Alaska State Psychiatric
Institute in 1985 based
out of Anchorage. He
semi-retired in 1992 but
continued to serve as a re-
cruiter for hospitals in
Alaska until 2004, when
he returned to his roots in
the Mouse River valley,
living in Velva, ND.
Al was a member of
Norwich Lutheran
Church, Norwich, ND and
served on the boards of
the Souris Valley Care
Center and Senior Ci-
tizens Group, both of Vel-
va. He enjoyed the out-
doors while fishing and
hunting, loved to travel
and was a great bowler.
He was a talented musi-
cian who enjoyed playing
the string bass and the
saxophone. He will be for-
ever missed by those who
were blessed to share in
his life.
Al is survived by: his
sons Brad Finneseth of
Fairbanks, AK and Allen
Finneseth of Anchorage,
AK; grandchildren April,
Angela, Christina, Daniel,
Tara and Carrie Lynn. Al
also has 9
great-grandchildren; Ma-
son, Kina, Porter, Skylin,
Karter, Ella, Sennet, Bray-
den and Jaxson.
Al was preceded in
death by: his parents,
wife Eleanor, son Brian
Finneseth,
daughter-in-law Katrina
Finneseth and sister
Elaine Finneseth.
Service to Honor Alvin
Finneseth: 1:00 p.m. Fri-
day, March 19, 2021 at
Norwich Lutheran
Church, Norwich, ND. To
view a livestream of the
service or to share
memories and con-
dolences access Al's obi-
tuary page at
www.thomasfamily
funeralhome.com
Interment: Norwich
Lutheran Church
Cemetery.
Visitation: will be held
one hour prior to the start
of the service at the
church.
In lieu of plants and
flowers memorials are
preferred to Norwich
Lutheran Church,
Norwich or the Souris
Valley Care Center, Velva,
ND.