Montelle J. Imsdahl
Born on November 28, 1925 in Brooten, MN
Died on August 4, 2021 in Buffalo, MN
Father: Menvil Peter Imsdahl, born November 4, 1899, died April 18, 1983
Mother: Mabel Evelyna (Arenson) Imsdahl, born September 27, 1904, died November 20, 1995
Married: Shirley Margaret Wannebo on July 6, 1952
Daughter: Crystal Mathews, born November 23, 1954, died April 26, 2019
Son: Bradley J. Imsdahl
Married: Teresa M. Powelson on July 1, 1977, born September 6, 1914, died February 7, 1998
Married: Margaret A. Lindberg on September 28, 2008

Montelle (Monte) Imsdahl was born on November 28, 1925 in Brooten, Minnesota, to Menvil P. Imsdahl and Mabel (Arenson) Imsdahl of Brooten. The family moved to Michigan during World War II to work in the factories where Monte graduated from Muskegon Heights High School on June 17, 1943. He enlisted in the Army before turning 18 in November of 1943.

Monte entered service on January 28, 1944 and received training at Fort Sheridan, Illinois and Camp Blanding, Florida before being assigned to the 262nd Infantry Regiment, 66th Infantry Division, at Camp Rucker, Alabama. He set sail for England from New York on November 15, 1944 and was stationed in Weymouth, England. On December 24, 1944, the 66th Infantry Division left the Southampton port and crossed the English Channel heading for France as reinforcements during the Battle of the Bulge. Monte's platoon was on the SS Leopoldville troop transport ship when it was torpedoed by a German U-Boat at around 6PM. Monte survived because he was an assistant jeep driver and was on a different ship at the time with his jeep.

Because the 66th Infantry Division was severely depleted after the sinking of their ship, they were reassigned to the St. Nazaire and Lorient sectors on the west coast of France to relieve the 94th Infantry Division where about 100,000 German soldiers were defending the ports along the coast. Monte was engaged in combat for 5 months until the Germans surrendered in May of 1945. Monte was then transferred to the 42nd Infantry Division in Austria where he drove a truck to deliver groceries to German prisoners of war. He was discharged from the Army on June 8, 1946 at Camp McCoy, Wisconsin.

After the war, Monte went to school to be trained as a telegrapher for the railroad. He worked for the Soo Line Railroad in South Haven, MN when he married Shirley Margaret Wannebo of Buffalo on July 6, 1952. They moved to Duluth in 1954 where they had two children, Crystal and Bradley. In 1964, the family moved to Buffalo where Monte worked as an Old Dutch driver, and as a mail carrier for the Buffalo postal service until his retirement.

Monte married Margaret A. Lindberg of Buffalo on September 28, 2008. They enjoyed dancing, spending winters in Alamo, Texas, and playing 500.

Monte also enjoyed fishing, and playing his keyboard for family and friends at the Lakeridge Care Center in Buffalo and the Parkview Care Center in Buffalo.

Monte died peacefully in his sleep on the morning of August 4, 2021 at the Buffalo Hospital. Monte is survived by his wife Margaret Lindberg-Imsdahl, son Bradley (Susan) Imsdahl of Becker, step-daughter Cindy (Mike) Hemphill of Maple Grove, son-in-law Greg Mathews of Buffalo, step-daughter-in-law Krista Lindberg of Buffalo, brother Robert Imsdahl of New London, sister Joanne Fauskee of Brooten, 2 nephews, 4 nieces, 6 step grandchildren, and 13 step great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his father Menvil P. Imsdahl, mother Mabel (Arenson) Imsdahl, daughter Crystal Mathews, and step-son Tylor Lindberg.

Menvil, Bob, Mabel, Joanne, and Monte

1944

Monte married Shirley Margaret Wannebo on July 6, 1952

Four Generations of Imsdahls
Monte with his father Menvil, his grandmother Marit, and his daughter Crystal

Monte, Crystal, Bradley, and Shirley

Monte loved fishing

Monte enjoyed playing his keyboard at family gatherings and for residents at senior care centers

Monte married Margaret A. Lindberg on September 28, 2008

In 2015, we made a video featuring an interview with Monte about his experiences during WWII.
For more information about his time in the military, read the letters that he wrote to his family back home.

Bob Imsdahl, Joanne Fauskee, and Monte Imsdahl in 2021

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