Charles "Chuck" Lester Akerlind, age 73, of East Grand Forks, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on Thursday, July 2, 2026, due to complications of a stroke, at Valley Senior Living in Grand Forks, North Dakota with his family by his side.

Chuck was born on August 26, 1952 in Bottineau, North Dakota, to parents, Melvin & Eleanor (Strom) Akerlind. He grew up in Bottineau and lived in California for a few years before moving back and graduating from Bottineau High School. Chuck attended NDSU in Fargo, North Dakota for 2 years, before moving to Grand Forks and began working as a Salesman for Coca-Cola. He met Susan Abel of East Grand Forks, Minnesota during a summer on Maple Lake and they were united in marriage on April 7, 1984. Chuck & Susan made their home in East Grand Forks. After over 25 years working as a salesman for Coca-Cola, Chuck began working for the East Grand Forks Public Schools in Buildings & Grounds and Food Service. He enjoyed his time there and his co-workers became some of his closest friends. Maintaining and tending to the soccer fields quickly became more of a hobby, than a job. Chuck was with East Grand Forks Public Schools for over 15 years, retiring in 2016.

Chuck enjoyed spending time out at Maple Lake, going on pontoon rides and being with family. He liked spending time in his porch, where his friends and family would come and go enjoying each other's company. Chuck was a fan of The Weather Channel and often the most reliable source of weather information. He was also a jokester who liked to play pranks on his family and friends. Chuck took great pride in tending to his own lawn, shuttling his kids to figure skating and soccer and attending his children and grandchildren's sporting events. Most of all, Chuck loved his daughters and grandchildren – they were his "buddies" for life. Chuck was deeply loved and will be very missed.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Melvin & Eleanor Akerlind; brother, Steve Akerlind; father & mother-in-law, Merlyn "Mouse" & Margaret Abel; nephew, Ross Lund; brothers-in-law, Bill Lund, and Jim Wolfe.

Chuck is survived by his wife, Susan; children, Sally Akerlind (Jerry Sayler), Mary (Casey) Wood, and Ellie (Robbie) Grabanski; grandchildren, Rylie Wood, Kendall Wood, Logan Wood and Cooper Charles Grabanski; siblings, Jim (Joan) Akerlind, and Jean Akerlind; and many nieces & nephews.

VISITATION is 4:00 – 6:00 PM, with a MEMORIAL SERVICE at 6:00 PM, on Tuesday, July 7, 2026 at Dahl Funeral Home, 2029 Central Avenue NW, East Grand Forks, Minnesota. Inurnment at Resurrection Cemetery in East Grand Forks.