SLETTEN, Marvin Lester 1921 - 2014

SLETTEN, NORRGARRD, SMITH, DENNY, REYNOLDSON, STEINLICHT, MILAS, BAHSEN, DOMIER, OVERMOEN

Posted By: Pat Ludeke (email)
Date: 1/10/2018 at 12:13:54

Marvin Lester Sletten, 92, passed peacefully from this world in the loving arms of the Lord surrounded by family at 9:20 p.m. Saturday, July 5, 2014, at Good Shepherd Health Center in Mason City.

A funeral service for Marvin will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 10, 2014, at St. James Lutheran Church 1148 Fourth St. S.E., Mason City, with the Rev. Jack Gannett officiating.

Visitation will be from 4 until 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Hogan-Bremer-Moore Colonial Chapel, 126 Third St. N.E., Mason City. Visitation will also be held one hour prior to service time on Thursday at the church. Burial will be in the Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery in Mason City with military graveside honors conducted by members of Mason City Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Edward Tosel American Legion Post #110 of Manly.

Memorials may be directed to St. James Lutheran Church where he was a member.

Marvin was born Oct. 23, 1921, one of 13 children, on the family homestead near Hatton, N.D., to Lewis and Amanda (Norrgarrd) Sletten. Marvin attended school through the eighth grade and then was needed to work on the family farm.

At age of 16, he went to work for the Civilian Conservation Corps to help send money home to his parents and siblings.

Marvin enlisted in the Army on May 30, 1941, at Ft. Snelling, Minn. He completed basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.

During his service as a military policeman he received the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Three Bronze Stars, World War II Victory Medal, American Campaign Medal, American Defense Service Medal, as well as various weapons qualifications medals. Marvin’s “Battles and Campaign” areas of operation included Normandy, Northern France and Germany. Additionally, he was awarded the World War II Honorable Service Lapel Button and Operation Overload Commemorative Medal from D-Day invasion. He received an honorable discharge on Nov. 14, 1945, at Camp McCoy, Wis.

In April of 2010, Marvin had the opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C. with other World War II veterans on the Honor Flight to view the World War II Memorial and attend ceremonies.

He was a member of the Mason City Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Edward-Tosel American Legion Post 110 of Manly.

Marvin worked for Decker’s Meatpacking Plant for many years, and later owned Marv’s Small Engine/Saw Shop and operated a wrecker service.

Marvin returned to Iowa to visit a sister after his military discharge and met the love of his life, Wilma Arlene Smith. They were united in marriage Nov. 10, 1946, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. To this marriage were born seven children. Wilma passed away in 1990.

Marvin married Delores Denny in 1991. They lived in Manly, Iowa, before moving to Mason City. Delores passed away in 2000.

Marvin continued living to Mason City, entering Cornerstone Assisted Living in 2009, and moving to Good Shepherd Health Center in August 2013.

Marvin is survived by his seven children, David (Susan) Sletten, Farmington, Minn., Janice (Dennis) Reynoldson, Iowa Falls, Iowa, Connie Steinlicht, Britt, Iowa, Charlotte (Terry) Milas, Bismarck, N.D., Mervin (Ann) Sletten, Mason City, Iowa, Rodney (Fran) Sletten, Lexington, N.C., and Patty Bierl and significant other, Jack Bahnsen, Nora Springs, Iowa; 17 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren. He is also survived by two sisters, Marion Domier and Dorothy Overmoen of North Dakota, and brother, Elroy Sletten of Wisconsin.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Wilma and later Delores; granddaughter Jamie Steinlicht; son-in-law, Henry “Junior” Steinlicht; and son-in-law, Michael L.J. Gribben; and nine siblings.

We would like to thank the caregivers at Cornerstone Assisted Living and Good Shepherd Health Center for the wonderful care and compassion they gave to Marvin.