Chester Chet Ackland

Lumen Chester Ackland, better known as Chet Ackland, was born to Lewis and Clara Nelson Ackland on June 30, 1915. He attended grade school in Manchester and was confirmed at Central Freeborn Lutheran Church. He graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1934. On June 18, 1941, he married Florence Keen. They bought and operated a grocery store in NE Minneapolis. After a few years they bought a farm near Manchester, MN. In October of 1969, they opened the Bible Book Store in Albert Lea and continued to farm and operate the store until 1982 when their son Mark took over the farm and they concentrated on the bookstore. In 1985, his wife Flo passed away. On April 2, 2000, he married Virginia Ginny Quam and they continued the bookstore until his retirement at the age of 88. Chet is survived by his wife, Ginny; sons JayLinda of Neola, Iowa, Greg Janet of Hartland, Mark Julie of Manchester; 7 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren; sister-in-law Agnes Ackland of Albert Lea; stepsons, Gregg Linda Quam, Todd Monica Quam, Dann Gem Quam, Ross Karen Quam and Wyatt Kim Quam and 16 step-grandchildren. Chet was preceded in death by his wife, Florence, son, Thomas on May 7, 2007; brother, Victor and wife Margaret, and brother Elwood. Chet was an inspiration to many for his great love of God and was deeply loved. May his memory live on in the hearts of all of us. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Youth For Christ, The Crossroads Community Hospice, or the Crossroads Church Building Fund.