WWII Vets to receive high school diplomas
Posted 5/22/02

Shortly after Memorial Day, three area World War II Veterans will be getting long-awaited high school diplomas. But none of them will be there to receive them.

Llewellyn Northway, Andree Swanson and Harold Thorsbakken are all veterans who, for similar reasons, never received their diploma. Their families, however, will be accepting them on their behalf at the Milaca High School graduation ceremony Sunday, June 2.

Llewellyn Northway

Northway was born at his parentsí home near Foreston in 1917. He attended Milaca District 6 school and Milaca High School. His father was diagnosed with tuberculosis and Northway left school to take care of the family farm.

The day after the Pearl Harbor attack, Northway enlisted in the Army Air Corps. It was December, 1941. He served as a master sergeant in the South Pacific and received a bronze star for his service. After being honorably discharged in 1945, Northway moved back to Foreston.

In 1946, he married Marion Gannon and the two raised their three children in Princeton - Mary Ellyn, Jim and Barb.

Northway worked as a machinist and was active in the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and St. Edwardís Church. His family says he enjoyed spending time with his four grandchildren and that his strong love of family and country was visible to everyone he met.

Northway attended Milaca High School and District 6 class reunions and planned on walking on stage June 2 to receive his diploma, but he died suddenly on Nov. 12, 2001.

Andree (Andy) Swanson

Swanson was born in Des Moines, Iowa in 1912. At the age of two, Swanson and his family moved to Page Township in Mille Lacs County where he attended Tibbets Brook School through the eighth grade.

Like Northway, Swanson took up farming and logging in order to help his family exist.

In February, 1942, Swanson enlisted in the Army, obtaining the rank of sergeant while serving in California. That same year he married Alvina Maitland.

Swanson was honorably discharged in 1945 and returned to the West Coast as a logger. Shortly after, Swanson and his family returned to Minnesota and purchased the family farm. He and Alvina had six children: Aloha, Alan (who died in 1952), Ann, Arlene, Alyce and Aimee.

Swanson also enrolled in the GI School where he learned improved farming methods. He continued farming until 1973 when health issues forced him to retire. He died in 1989.

Swanson served on the Tibbets Brook School Board. His children and six grandchildren all graduated from Milaca High School.

According to his family, one of Swansonís main missions was to encourage his children to learn all they could.

Another grandchild, Andy Struffert, will be graduating from Milaca High School and will receive his diploma the same day his grandfather finally receives his.

Harold Thorsbakken

Born in Story City, Iowa, Harold Thorsbakken was also needed on the family farm. His father was injured and Thorsbakken left high school to help the family.

In 1943, Thorsbakken enlisted in the Navy and served on the USS Jason, a ship which served the United States until approximately three years ago. After completing his tour of duty, Thorsbakken returned to Iowa and attended school for mechanics.

Thorsbakken met his wife, Leona, and the two raised five children - Dan, Craig, Cindy, Mark and Susan.

A desire to have his own farm brought Thorsbakken and his family to Milaca in 1958. Eventually, Thorsbakken turned his career to the insurance industry. He took several educational courses, including a two-year C.L.U. insurance course.

After Thorsbakken retired, he focused his attention toward antique cars - specializing in the restoration of Model Tís.

Thorsbakken died in April, 2000.

All five of his children graduated from Milaca High School, along with one grandson. This June, another grandchild, April Thorsbakken, will be graduating from Milaca High School as well.

Thorsbakkenís wife, Leona said, "Harold would have really wanted to do this. We didnít think it was possible to graduate after a person died, until we saw the article in the newspaper about another family doing this. So I made a phone call to the school and found out that the Milaca School was very willing."

"The Milaca School District is proud to sponsor the WWII Veteran High School Diploma Program and to be a part of these family celebrations," said Superintendent Dr. Barbra Zakrajsek.

The Milaca High School graduation ceremony takes place on June 2 at 2 p.m. at the high school gym.