Alvin Bohlen, 79, of Brookings, SD, passed away Monday, February 05, 2018, at The Neighborhoods at Brookview in Brookings. Memorial services will be held at 10:30 am Thursday, February 08, 2017 at First United Methodist Church in Brookings, SD. Visitation will be from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm Wednesday at Eidsness Funeral Home in Brookings.

Al was born on July 16, 1938, in Corona, SD, the son of George and Doris (Harms) Bohlen. He learned the value of hard work growing up on his father's farm with his six sisters and two brothers. He attended schools in Roberts County, SD, and Corona, SD, before joining the National Guard in 1957. That same year Al met Marjorie Liebing at the local roller skating rink and the couple married on October 18, 1959 in Milbank, SD.

From 1961-1964 Al worked for Dakota Granite in Milbank, SD, where he was a stone cutter and wire saw operator. He also spent 10 months of active duty with the Milbank National Guard unit in Fort Carson, CO, during the Berlin Crisis in 1961. Al then attended the National School of Meat Cutting, Toledo, OH, where he trained to be a meat cutter. His first job as a meat cutter was for Red Owl Food Store in Aberdeen, SD. Later in 1964 Al moved his family to Brookings where he became the manager of the meat department at Red Owl Food Store. In 1976 he left Red Owl to work at the newly built Hy-Vee Store where he spent the rest of his career as a meat cutter until his retirement in 2003. Al loved his career and was well known for his sense of humor and story-telling; the best part of his job was the social interaction and joking with coworkers and customers. Al said, "They were good to me; and I hope I was good to them."

Al was a member of First United Methodist Church of Brookings where he served as head usher for many years. He had a passion for travelling and he and Marj visited Jamaica, the Panama Canal, Costa Rica, and Alaska which was his favorite destination. His favorite memories from his trips to Alaska were the land tours and the rare opportunity to completely view Mount McKinley on a clear day. Al's other hobbies included flying model airplanes and hunting deer, geese, and occasionally antelope with his friends and son.

The biggest obstacle for Al was living with Parkinson's disease but he did so with optimism and bravery. He continued to enjoy life as a resident of Brookview Manor in Brookings moving there in August, 2012 and then later at the Neighborhoods at Brookview where he loved to interact and joke with staff.

Al is survived by his wife, Marjorie, of Brookings; his son, Steve (Cindy) of Anchorage, AK and Clear Lake, SD; two daughters, Lauri (Gregg) TeBeest of Brookings SD, and Patty (Dave) Sutera of Tyndall, SD; grandchildren, Stephanie Bohlen (Chris Westerman), Samantha (Nick) South, Rachel (Ryan) Hulburt, Jordan (Monica) TeBeest, Matthew Sutera, Nathan Sutera, Zachary Sutera; step-grandchildren, Kerri Larson, Myles Peterson; great-grandchildren, Jordan Jensen, Jayden TeBeest, Lydia TeBeest, and Nolan Hulburt; step-great-grandchildren, Skylar Westerman, Brooke Westerman, and Drew Westerman .

Al was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Ervin and George (in infancy); sisters, Shirley, Annette, Edna, Elsie, Evelyn, and Luella.