Allen G. Finney

Allen’s service will be livestreamed and viewable below starting at 2:00 p.m. Friday, October 30, 2026:

Allen “Al” George Finney, age 90, passed away on October 21, 2026, in Fargo, ND. Al was born in Hallock, Minnesota on March 11, 1936, to George and Dorothy Finney, the oldest of three children. He grew up in Humboldt, MN (population 145), graduated from Humboldt High School in 1954, and was then drafted into the Army at age 22, a daunting step for Al, who had never before been away from his family or the small town he called home.

After returning home from the Army, Al began dating Marie (Tri), who had also grown up in Humboldt, and they married in 1964. They moved to East Grand Forks, where daughters Pam and Kristi were born, and later to Thief River Falls (TRF), where they spent many years raising their girls, working, and developing lasting friendships, before retiring to their lake home in Ottertail, MN. Al was well known and well-liked in TRF (and everywhere), in part because working in sales meant he met much of the community, but more so because he was the kind of person who greeted everyone he met, taking time to chat and often sharing a little humor that left people smiling.

Al grew up farming alongside his dad and brother, and although he spent most of his career in sales after leaving home, farming remained a part of who he was. He closely followed the weather and how it might affect local farmers, and he loved driving through the countryside to “check out the crops.” Whether it came naturally or was learned from years on the farm, Al had an incredible knack for fixing things. As a young boy, he and his brother Maury even built their own thresher.

Al’s three greatest passions were family, music, and time spent at the hunting land. He was a devoted husband and father whose life goal was to make sure his family had everything they needed and who was happiest when the people he loved were happy. Al did everything he could to bring smiles and laughter – from playful joking and silly antics to devoting countless hours and energy to creating things and experiences he knew would bring joy to his family.

Al took a genuine interest in everything his girls did and was always there to support and encourage them. No matter how daunting the challenge, they knew he would be standing behind them, believing in them every step of the way. He worried through every tryout, job interview, test, first day of work, illness, disappointment, and heartbreak as though he were going through it himself. Their joys were his joys, and their worries were his worries.

Al was raised with music all around him, and early on he and his brother Maury started a 60’s rock band called “The Charms,” with Maury on saxophone, Al on guitar, and friends who played drums, bass, and piano. Al learned to play entirely by ear and became skilled on every type of guitar, including acoustic, electric, and pedal steel guitar, as well as the banjo. Pam and Kristi have fond memories of falling asleep at night to the sound of Dad practicing guitar.

Al’s years of playing music included local bands in the TRF area as well as a largely family-based band that included brother Maury, nephews Duane and Steve Finney, and other musicians and singers. Over 3 summers in the late 1970s, the band performed at several county fairs and at the Minnesota State Fair, taking them, along with Marie and the girls, on many memorable adventures.

One of the proudest moments for Al and Maury came in 2007, when they and their original band, “The Charms,” were inducted into the Minnesota Rock & Country Hall of Fame.

Al’s grandchildren and great-granddaughter Finnley, along with many others, loved it when Papa pulled out his guitar and started playing. Because he could learn almost any song by ear, Papa would play along with just about anything the kids wanted to sing.

One of Al’s favorite places on earth was the hunting trailer and hunting land, where generations of Finneys, from Al and Maury down to grandsons and grand nephews, gathered to hunt grouse and deer. Al would start getting excited about hunting season months in advance and could hardly wait to finally head up north. While hunting was certainly part of the appeal (and he loved being outdoors, walking the land, building deer stands, etc.) what mattered most to Al was being with the guys. Their time together was filled with stories, laughter and plenty of ribbing, playing music (of course), meaningful conversations, and just enjoying being together. They loved each other deeply and, in true Finney fashion, never shied away from saying it.

Al is survived by daughters Pam (David) Rochlin and Kristi (John) Brandt; grandchildren Adam, Noah and Emma Rochlin, and Jacob (Nativa) and Alex Brandt: and great-granddaughter Finnley; brother Maury and sister-in-law Faith Finney, sister Eunice Robinson, brother-in-law Pete Tri, sister-in-law Kathy Tri, and kitty Sami.

He was preceded in death by his wife Marie, parents George and Dorothy Finney, mother-in-law Helen Tri, and several other beloved family members.