Allen Rodney Michaelson, 91, of Blooming Prairie, Minn., died Saturday evening, Aug. 18, 2012, at Traditions II Assisted Living in Owatonna, Minn.

He was born May 14, 1921, in Kettle River, Minn., the son of John Henry and Anna Ericka (Weidelman) Michaelson. Allen was raised in Kettle River where he was baptized on June 19, 1921, and confirmed on Aug. 8, 1937, at Apostolic Lutheran Church. He attended school in Kettle River, and then attended Dunwoody Technical Institute in Minneapolis. He served with the United States Army Air Corp, attaining the rank of major during World War II as flight instructor. Allen was employed as an assembly manager for IBM for over 30 years, working in Endicott, N.Y. and Rochester, Minn. On March 21, 1971, he was united in marriage to Marjorie Ann Lowe at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. The couple made their home in Blooming Prairie, Brownsdale and Altoona, Iowa. Marjorie died on Feb. 18, 2005. Allen enjoyed fishing and hunting and playing billiards. He was a 65-year charter member of American Legion Post No. 52 of Blooming Prairie.

Allen is survived by two daughters, Polly Sparrow of Rochester and Barbara (Wayne) Voigt of Stewartville; two step-daughters, Connie Trihus of Blooming Prairie and Rita (David) Braaten of Owatonna; two step-sons, Rodney (Tess) Koster and Scott (Julie) Easton, both of Blooming Prairie; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Anna Michaelson; wife, Marjorie Ann; son, Allen Michaelson, Jr.; two step-sons, Ronald and Richard Koster; one sister, Verna; and two brothers in their youth, Ralph and Armand.

Memorial services will be held at 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2012, at the Worlein Blooming Prairie Funeral Home with Pastor Heidi Heimgartner officiating. Interment will follow the service at Grandview Cemetery in Austin with military honors by American Legion Post No. 91 and VFW Post No. 1216. Visitation will be held for one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.worlein.com.