Rev. Arthur "Art" Elwood Skoog

About Art

Rev. Arthur “Art” Elwood Skoog, 92, of Menahga, MN passed away peacefully on Friday, April 28, 2023 at the Rose Haven Assisted Living in Menahga, MN.

He was born in Wolf Lake Township July 23,1930 to Olaf and Saima (Hillukka) Skoog. He attended 8 grades at a country school near his home. After finishing school he helped around the farm and at neighboring farms.

Later he bought a 1937 Chevy truck with his brother Roy and they hauled wood and grain to Fargo. In 1949, he moved to the cities because Mom was living there and began work at E L Murphy Trucking.

He was united in marriage to Hazel Paananen on 3/3/51 and they were blessed with eight children. They bought a farm east of Midway in 1954 and there they raised their family.

Over the years Dad worked at various places in addition to farming including Swift, McGarry Bros Road Construction and Alto Construction. In 1967, he took over his father’s insurance business. He also served as a pastor of the First Apostolic Lutheran Church.

In 1989, they bought a home in Menahga and moved to town in 1993. During retirement he enjoyed fishing, gardening, and daily trips to the farm where he raised beef cattle until age 83. Dad was interested in languages and studied Finnish, Swedish, Spanish and Hungarian. Mom and Dad enjoyed traveling and made many long road trips in the U.S. and also several trips to Finland and Sweden.

Dad enjoyed visiting and being with people of all ages. Their home was always open for a “cup of coffee.” His grandchildren brought him special joy. He will be sorely missed.

Mom and Dad moved to Rosehaven Assisted Living in February 2017.

Dad is survived by his children: Donna, Elmer (Karen) Skoog, Karen (Jim) Elmstrand, Colleen (Tom) Niska, and Lois Nelson, son-in-law Tom Jokinen, sister Esther (John) Martin and sister-in-law Edna Skoog, 23 grandchildren, 70 great grandchildren, and 2 great great grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his wife Hazel of 70 years, 2 daughters, Edna and Sharon, 5 great grandchildren, parents, Olaf and Saima Skoog, 5 brothers, Walter, Rudolph, Roy, Kenneth and Harvey.

memorial service

Funeral Services for Art

May 6, 2023

Location: Runeberg Apostolic Lutheran Church near Menahga, MN. Visitation will be held on Friday, May 5, 2023 from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the church. Visitation will also be held for one hour prior to the services at church on Saturday. Interment will be held at the Menahga City Cemetery.

Funeral/Cremation Provider: Cease Family Funeral Home