Lloyd Wilfred Lofback, 92 years, passed away peacefully following a short battle with pancreatic cancer on Tuesday, June 6, the day after his 92nd birthday at Diamond Willow Assisted Living in Mt. Iron.

Lloyd was born on June 5, 1925 in Virginia, Minnesota to Lillian (Karvonen) and Wilfred Lofback, the oldest of two children. Lloyd played the piano and spent his childhood at the family cabin on Bass Lake. He graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1943.

Lloyd enlisted in the US Navy on September 21, 1943. He attended Naval Electrical Training School at Farragut, Idaho and graduated on April 8, 1944. He was then was assigned to a naval base in California and obtained the rank of Electrician's Mate Second Class. Lloyd was honorably discharged on June 2, 1946 in Shoemaker, California. Lloyd was a proud WWII Veteran and was honored in 2012 to go to Washington, DC as part of the Northland Honor Flight.

Lloyd was employed by Northwestern Bell Telephone Company (a/k/a US West, Qwest, and Century Link) as a toll terminal technician where he worked at locations throughout the Iron Range, but mostly at the office in Virginia. Over his career, Lloyd had many interesting experiences, including working with the Secret Service setting up a secure phone line when Vice President Mondale came to the area. Lloyd retired from the phone company in September, 1990.

On September 30, 1961 Lloyd was united in marriage to Betty (Weaver). They made their home in Virginia for 56 years. Lloyd also enjoyed spending time at the cabin he purchased on Birch Point, Lake Vermillion. The cabin was his happy place where he enjoyed countless hours of fishing with his family, and friends. Being a proud Finlander Lloyd also enjoyed many a sauna at the cabin.

Lloyd was also a champion trap shooter, was a long time member of the Kline Cuppoletti trap club until its closing a couple years ago. Lloyd maintained his shooting skills at the Zim Sportsman's club. He made many lifelong friends through his many years of trap and skeet shooting. Lloyd was an avid hunter of geese, ducks, pheasant, grouse and deer. He shot his final deer in November 2016 at the age of 91.

Lloyd was known for his love of dogs, especially golden retrievers. His Rusty, Chief, and Kasey were his special boys. He spent many hours training them and hunting with them. There are many stories and happy memories of each of the dogs. In addition, he was blessed to share the lives of his daughter's dogs, Nugget and now Max, both also golden retrievers.

Lloyd was a lifelong member of the Minnesota Iron Range Retriever Club, and was a gunner for their field trials and hunt tests for decades. He was honored being asked to be part of the elite gun crew for each of four National Amateur Championships (1997, 2001, 2005 & 2009) and the Master National Hunt Test (2008) held at the club.

Lloyd loved his family above all things. His wife Betty, daughter Brenda and her husband Peter, and his two granddaughters Megan and Mary. Lloyd and Betty were active in Brenda's life as band parents during her years in the Virginia Marching Band. They chaperoned numerous trips, including the band's first trip ever to Washington, DC in 1980. As Megan and Mary were growing up, Grandpa Lloyd was often the person who drove them to various practices. Grandpa was a fixture at their events, Megan with tennis and band, and now watching Mary in tennis, softball, and choir and piano/vocal recitals. Probably the greatest legacy that Lloyd leaves with his granddaughters is his love of hunting and fishing.

Lloyd was a member of Gethsemane Lutheran Church and often helped out with projects at the church. He was a life member of the American Legion, Virginia Serviceman's Club and their Koffee Klutch, and the Telephone Pioneers.

Lloyd is survived by his wife Betty, daughter Brenda (Peter) Skorich, granddaughters Megan (fiancée Josh Lundberg), and Mary and also grand dog Max. Sister, Marilyn (Cookie) Davidson, of Woodlands, Texas, nieces Cindy (Rob) Joyner, Lesa (Blake) Lewis, Susan (Craig) Brown, and Lynn (­­Charles) Grimm and cousins. He is also survived by many, many great friends and neighbors who put a smile on his face over the years.

Lloyd was preceded in death by his parents, brother in law Bruce Davidson, and his dogs Rusty, Chief, Kasey and grand dog Nugget.

The family wishes to thank the wonderful staff at Diamond Willow Assisted Living who gave Lloyd such great care in his final days and also Essentia East Range Hospice, especially Chaplain Jeff Jones who became a good friend to Lloyd over the past year since Betty was put on hospice and helped him in his final days. We would also like to acknowledge and thank Megan for being Grandpa's nurse and the care she gave him throughout this journey.

A gathering time for family and friends will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 15, 2017 at Gethsemane Evangelical Lutheran Church in Virginia. The Memorial Service will begin at 11:00 a.m. at the Church. Pastor Nathan Sager will officiate. Military honors are accorded by the Virginia Servicemen's Honor Guard. Inurnment will take place in the Greenwood Cemetery.

Memorials are preferred in lieu of flowers and may be directed to the Virginia Community Foundation/Olcott Park Fountain Fund, the Northland Honor Flight, or the Virginia Serviceman's Club.

Family services provided by Bauman-Cron, A Bauman Family Funeral Home in Virginia. To share condolences online, please see: www.baumanfuneralhome.com .

Gathering Time for Family & Friends

Thursday June 15, 2017 , 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM at Gethsemane Evangelical Lutheran Church

Memorial Service

Thursday June 15, 2017 , 11:00 AM at Gethsemane Evangelical Lutheran Church

Military Honors Accorded by the Virginia Servicemen's Honor Guard

Thursday June 15, 2017 , 12:00 PM at Gethsemane Evangelical Lutheran Church

Inurnment

Thursday June 15, 2017 , 2:00 PM at Greenwood Cemetery

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Facts Born: June 5, 1925
Place of Birth: Virginia, MN 55792
Death: June 6, 2017
Place of Death: Mountain Iron, MN
Occupation: Toll Terminal Technician for NW Bell

Memorial Donations Memorial donations can be made to:
Honor Flight Northland
Virginia Foundation - Olcott Park Fountain Restoration Fund
Virginia Servicemens Club