Loren “Pap” Koistinen, 79, of Grand Forks, ND, formerly of Rolla, ND passed away Monday, July 18, 2011 at the Woodside Village in Grand Forks, ND. Funeral Services will be held on at 10:00 am Friday, July 22, 2011 at the United Methodist Church at Rolla, ND. Visitation will be held at the United Methodist Church Thursday, July 21, 2011 from 5 to 8 p.m. with a prayer service starting at 7 p.m. Visitation on Friday will be at the church for one hour prior to the funeral service. Burial will be at the Hansboro, ND Cemetery with full military honors provided by the V.F.W. Post 4516 of Rolla, ND and the North Dakota National Guard.

Loren was born on October 21, 1931 in Hansboro, ND the son of Jacob and Lydia (Hendrickson) Koistinen. He completed the 10th grade before joining the U.S. Army at age sixteen. He proudly served his country in Korea and Europe before returning to North Dakota. He married Vera Stapleton on February 21, 1956 in Cando, ND.

Pap was employed by Towner County where he operated road maintenance equipment. He did this for 28 years before purchasing his own bulldozer, scraper and truck. With his strong work ethic, Pap could be found pushing, scraping or hauling everything from dirt, gravel, asphalt to grain in all the nearby counties. After several years of especially long summer days, he sold his equipment. Slowing down for Pap meant helping with Rex Parslow’s crop in the spring and fall. Despite his hard work, Pap found time to travel, hunt and fish. Somewhat of a pool shark, he would never shy away from a bet, and he tended to find his fair share of ropes in pinochle. He and Vera loved to go to the reunions that were held all over the country with his Army buddies. He was a lifetime member of the V.F.W. Family was always important to Pap. He had an especially soft spot in his heart for his grandchildren.

He is survived his wife: Vera; 6 daughters: Pamela Koistinen-Bradley of Hot Springs, MT, Anne (Robert) White of Johnsonville, SC, Laurie (Bryan) Azure of St Paul Park, MN, Leah (Peter) Klingbeil of Langdon, ND, Cindy (Rick) Laverdure of Fargo, ND, MaryJo (Scott) Delvo of Buxton, ND; 3 sons: Ken (Shelly) of Rolla, Blaine (significant other Kathy Kendell) of Hot Springs, MT, and Blake (Carla) of Langdon, ND; 20 grandchildren, 11 step-grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren. Also surviving him are daughter-in-law Rita Stapleton of Hot Springs, MT, and sister-in-law Margaret Koistinen.

Pap is preceded in death by his step-son Vance Stapleton and son Michael Koistinen; sisters: Vianna Errikila, Luella Koistinen, Eldora Ellison and Elaine Findly; and brothers: Alvin, Wilber, Johnny, Irvin and Vernon.