BIRKEDAL, Palmer 1919-2005

BIRKEDAL, MOTLAND, TURNER

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 2/27/2009 at 21:12:11

Palmer Birkedal

OSAGE, IOWA — Palmer Birkedal, 86, of rural Osage died of cancer Monday (June 13, 2005) at Mitchell County Regional Health Center in Osage.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at the Rock Creek Lutheran Church, 3269 Foothill Avenue, Osage, with the Rev. R. Dawson Tornes officiating. Burial will be in the Rock Creek Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home, 702 State St., Osage, and will continue one hour before services at the church on Friday.

Palmer was born May 5, 1919, in Dunn County, North Dakota, the son of Peter and Sara (Motland) Birkedal. He moved to the Mitchell County area with his family as a youth. He attended school in Otranto, and graduated from Plymouth High School.

Palmer served in the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II. He attended St. Olaf College, then returned to the family farm where he lived until the time of his death.

Palmer was united in marriage to Alice Turner on Dec. 11, 1949, at Independence, Iowa. He was a longtime member of Rock Creek Lutheran Church.

Palmer enjoyed pitching horseshoes and bowling, and bowled a game of 186 three weeks before his death. He greatly enjoyed his grandchildren, and following their activities.

He is survived by a daughter, Nina Bates and husband, the Rev. John Bates, of rural Rudd; four sons: the Rev. Paul Birkedal and wife, Karen, of Viroqua, Wis.; Mark Birkedal and wife, Char, of Nora Springs, Philip Birkedal and wife, Julie, of Mason City, Dr. John Birkedal and wife, Mary Lynn, of Lewisville, N. C.; 13 grandchildren: Matthew and Allison Bates, Sarah, Rachel and Nathan Birkedal, Brian, Scott and Eric Birkedal, Clare and David Birkedal, Ashley, Shelby and Ryan Birkedal; two sisters: Marie Field of San Gabriel, Calif.; Margaret Luttio and husband, the Rev. Philip Luttio, of San Pedro, Calif.

Palmer Birkedal is preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Alice Birkedal in 1996; an infant son, David; and a brother-in-law, John Field.

Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home, Osage, (641) 732-3706.

[Globe Gazette -- June 15, 2005]