Ted (Theodore) Hoglund's Obituary
Ted Hoglund passed away surrounded by family on October 7, 2022, only
a few weeks before his 85th birthday. Just days before his passing, he
received a sudden diagnosis of cancer that had spread. He told his
family that he had a good life with so many wonderful experiences and
he was at peace.
Ted was born in 1937, at Fort Snelling, to Sergeant Orville Hoglund
and Beatrice Hoglund. After his father was discharged from the Army,
the family moved to Jackson, Michigan where Ted first attended school.
When World War 2 broke out, Ted’s father Orville, reenlisted in the
Army Air Force and the family relocated to Mellen, Wisconsin to be
closer to extended family. After the war, the family rejoined Orville
in Wiesbaden, Germany, where Ted and his 3 brothers attended school
and learned a few German words. After Germany, the family first moved
to Chanute Air Force Base in Illinois and then to Camp Custer in
Michigan. In Michigan, Ted and his brothers joined the boy scouts and
developed a lifelong love for camping in the woods.
In 1953, when Ted was in high school, the family moved to Tacoma,
Washington. Ted was not happy about it at first, but it turned out to
be a good move for the family. Ted, along with his brother Gene joined
the Army National Guards, Btry A, 530th Anti-aircraft battalion when
he was 17, serving from November 1954 to November 1962. He and his
brothers met their wives and raised their families in the area. In
1957, Ted married his high school sweetheart, Barbara. He worked at
Boeing building B-52s and 707s. He and Barbara had a son Ronald in
1958. In 1960, Ted landed his dream job as a firefighter for Tacoma
and his daughter Teresa was born. In 1963, the family welcomed
another daughter, Renee. Ultimately, Ted climbed the “ladder” to
become a battalion chief for the Tacoma Fire Department and retired in
1986.
In 1975, Ted bought a muzzle loading rifle and attended a rendezvous.
This was the beginning of his lifelong love for the rendezvous – which
included sewing his own period gear, making rifles and pistols, and
trading gear and muzzle loaders. The last rendezvous he attended was
in May of 2022. Ted made good friends with Oly Olson and Norm
“Rawhide” Allen at the rendezvous and they convinced him to buy a
place close to Thompson Falls, MT.
In 2002, Barbara passed away from complications associated with a long
battle with Alzheimer’s, and shortly thereafter Ted moved to Thompson
Falls.
In Thompson Falls, Ted thrived living in nature and being able to hunt
in his own backyard. He made many new friends. He was active with a
poker group, various rendezvous groups, and the many organizations he
belonged to including the Masons, the Elks, the American Legion and
several gun making guilds.
Ted was a man of service, always willing to either take the lead or
pitch in when there was a need. More recently, he shared his knowledge
as a docent teaching school children about Lewis and Clark, serving in
leadership in the organizations he belonged to, and tirelessly
fundraising for his causes.
Ted loved history and studied David Thompson and Lewis and Clark so
extensively that he became a local expert recognized by others for his
extensive knowledge.
Ted was a wonderful father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother
and son. He told us he loved us every time he talked to us. He was a
role model to us of how to live a good life. He made friends
everywhere he went. He showed us that through hard work and
determination you can achieve really big things.
Ted loved jokes and had a great sense of humor. You couldn't connect
with him without hearing a genuinely funny joke about Oly and Lena or
St. Peter.
Ted is survived by his daughters Teresa Hoglund (Steve Welty) and
Renee Roewer, his brother Gene Hoglund (wife Susan), his sister-in-law
Virginia Hoglund, his grandchildren Shawn, Joshua and Rachel Roewer,
Megan Barkley, Coby and Kiki Welty, his great grandchildren Brooke,
Violet, Mackenzie, Gauge, Anna, Jackson, Lily, and Odessa, and his
special friend Judy and her family.
Ted was preceded in death by his parents Orville and Beatrice, his
sisters Lorraine Degiovanni and Minerva Hitchcock, his brothers,
Harvey and Jerry, his wife, Barbara, and his son, Ronald.
What’s your fondest memory of Ted?
What’s a lesson you learned from Ted?
Share a story where Ted's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Ted you’ll never forget.
How did Ted make you smile?