Thomas A. Griffen, 78

A Memorial service for Thomas A. Griffen of Baudette, MN will be held on Monday, October 28, 2024 at 11:00AM at Wabanica Lutheran Church in Baudette, MN. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will take place at Elm Park Cemetery in Baudette, MN. 

Thomas Albert Griffen passed away on October 22, 2024 at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks, at the age of 78, from lung disease. He was born in Warroad, MN, on October 29, 1945, to Robert and Bernice Griffen.

He joined his older sister Cheryl, and they were later joined by his brother Jerry. He grew up in Baudette. As a youngster, he spent a lot of time on Lake the Woods. On the American side, he sold bait with his friend Jerry Hanson on Curry Island, and on the Canadian side, he spent time at the family cabin on an island in Sabaskong Bay. He graduated from Baudette High School in 1963. For a short time he attended Hibbing Junior College. It was short as he was asked to leave by the Dean, because his "social life greatly interfered with his academic life." He then transferred to Bemidji State University to pursue a degree in geography and history. He guided on Lake of the Woods during the summer during those years, and returned to Lake of the Woods County to guide and work full time after college. He married Judy Hanson on June 28, 1969 in Wilmot, South Dakota. They made a home on "Griffen's corner" and later had two children, a daughter, Robyn, and a son, Todd.

Tom had many endeavors. He ran Tom's Launch Service for over 25 years, becoming somewhat of a local fishing legend in the area. Throughout the years, he owned and operated both Sunnyside Sanitation and the Leonard C, and always had some kind of other work or project. He had many talents and abilities. He repaired wooden charter boats, installed dock posts, built winter track vehicles, did carpentry work, built the original igloo fish house on Lake of the Woods with friend Clarence Lind, and took on anything else that as he said, "came by the door." He built his own log home by hand after flying with his dad over the Pine Island State Forest to find a stand of white pine suitable for the project. Other projects he was most proud of included rebuilding his airplanes, the Piper Cub and the Norseman. While rebuilding the Norseman, he also spent countless hours working through what he called "red tape and bureaucracy" with the FAA to get it certified to fly in the United States. In his later years, Tom enjoyed spending time hunting at the Ant Farm, in the cabin he built with friend Gary Noble. Throughout his life, he always maintained his interest in history by spending countless hours reading books and watching the History Channel. He will be remembered for his talents, but also because he was a friend to many, and loved to socialize.

He is survived by his wife, Judy, daughter, Robyn (John) Sonstegard, and son, Todd Griffen, all of Baudette. He is also survived by his sister, Cheryl (John) Spaeth, of Henderson, NV, brother-in-law, Willis Hanson, of Milbank, SD, grandaughters, Jordan and Kayman, grandson, Griffen, and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Bob and Bernice, brother, Jerry, and many cherished friends. 

The family would like to thank the nursing staff at both LakeWood Health Center in Baudette and Altru Health System in Grand Forks for the exceptional care they provided to Tom over the last two months.