Palmer Aaberg

Funeral services for Palmer Aaberg of Starbuck, Minnesota will be held Friday, January 12, 2018 at 1:30 p.m. at Fron Lutheran Church in Starbuck, with Reverend Paul Johnson officiating.  Visitation will be Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m.at the Starbuck Funeral Home in Starbuck and for one hour prior to services at the church on Friday.  Burial will be in Fron Lutheran Cemetery, rural Starbuck.

Palmer Birdeen Aaberg was born on April 15, 1927 at home, the 11th of 13 children to Gilman and Clara (Berg) Aaberg in Langhei Township, Pope County, Minnesota. He was raised in Langhei Township, where he attended country school District #59 until the 8th grade. Palmer was baptized and confirmed at Fron Lutheran Church in Starbuck.  After his schooling, he continued helping on the family farm, he worked at the Starbuck Cement Company as well as various other local work.    At the age of 17, Palmer moved to Minneapolis and worked for the Bryant Lake Sanitary Ice Company.  In 1950, he was drafted into the United States Army; Palmer completed basic training in Camp Polk, Louisiana and served in Frankfurt, Germany.  During his time there, he drove the Captain around the Autobahn.   While en route to Germany, the ship made a stop in England, Palmer was the only one allowed off the ship; he purchased a guitar to entertain the troops.  Palmer was discharged in October of 1952.  Palmer’s fishing partner, Gene Johnson, introduced him to his twin sister, Joy Johnson, they began dating and on June 26, 1954, Palmer and Joy eloped in Nashua, Iowa at The Little Brown Church in the Vale.  They made their home in South Minneapolis; to this union, four children were born. Palmer started his career with the United State Postal Service; where he “carried every route” in Minneapolis, he was transferred to Wayzata where he started his rural routes before his transfer to Glenwood in 1973.  The family made their home in Starbuck.  Palmer retired in 1991.

Palmer was a life-long member of Fron Lutheran Church in Starbuck, serving on the council. He was active in the National Mail Carrier’s Association, traveling to many conventions over the years with Joy; he served as the President and chairman and was honored as the “State Carrier of the Year” along with serving as the Chairman at the National Rural Letter’s Carrier’s Convention in St. Paul. Palmer was a member of the Starbuck VFW where he was a Past Commander, the Wayzata American Legion and Sons of Norway.  After retirement, Palmer and Joy started wintering to southern states, including: South Texas and Arizona, for over 20 years.  Palmer had a love of music and could be found playing in bands, entertaining people for miles.  He enjoyed playing the harmonica and the banjo, playing cards, square dancing and cruising around on his golf cart.  Palmer was proud of his Norwegian Heritage. Most importantly, Palmer cherished the time that he spent with his wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Palmer passed into his new life on Sunday, January 7th at the Glacial Ridge Hospital in Glenwood, Minnesota.  He was 90 years old.

He is survived by his wife: Joy Aaberg of Starbuck; two sons: Paul Aaberg of Starbuck and Allan (Laurie) Aaberg of Starbuck; two daughters: Amy (Mike) Jorgenson of Montevideo and Gail (Dave) Lommen of Minnetonka; eight grandchildren: Amber (Cory) Wasiloski of Starbuck, Megan (Richard) Baxendale of Minneapolis, Zachary (Callie Schiele) Aaberg of Crystal, Sarah (Travis Rinkenberger) Aaberg of Bismarck, Paige (Caleb) Meier of Alexandria, Whitney (Ryan) Hunter of Springfield, Nick Lommen of Minnetonka and Anders Lommen of Minnetonka; eight great-grandchildren: Tayte and Daxton Wasiloski, Mia, Eleigh and Eve Meier, Hannah, Gauge and Cree Hunter;  two sisters: Hilma Larson of Starbuck and Tina Hanson of Salinas, CA; sister-in-law: Elaine Rain of Alexandria and numerous nieces and nephews.

In Lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to support projects in and around the Starbuck Community.

Palmer's Memorial Folder