Rev. Marvin A. BERKELAND

BERKELAND, MYKING, PETERSON, OLTROGGE, SANFORD, KULT, SWANSON, HANSEN, COCHRAN, MEYER

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/1/2011 at 11:36:57

January 31, 2011
The Republican Eagle - Red Wing, Minnesota

May 19, 1927 -- January 26, 2011

Rev. Marvin A. Berkeland, age 83, of Lake City, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 26, at Regina Hospital in Hastings. Marvin was born May 19, 1927, in White River, S.D., to Nels and Andrea (Myking) Berkland. He graduated from Brookings High School in South Dakota in 1945. He then attended Augustana College in Sioux Falls, S.D., graduating in 1949. Marvin attended Luther Seminary in St. Paul and was ordained into the Lutheran ministry in 1952. He also did post-graduate work at the Menninger Clinic in Topeka, Kan. During his forty years in the ministry, he was called to parishes in Nevis and Dent, Minn.; Calmar, Eagle Grove, and Jefferson in Iowa; and Mt. Vernon, Ill. He also worked for Lutheran Social Services of Iowa and in the Texas State Hospital system.

Marvin married Euphemia "Famie" Peterson on Aug. 8, 1952, in Saronville, Neb. He is survived by Famie of Lake City; four children, Luther (Melinda) Berkeland of Lake City, Marcia (Mark) Oltrogge of Calmar, Iowa, Gerry Berkeland of Driftwood, Texas, John Berkeland of Phoenix, Ariz.; six grandchildren, Karolyn (Jon) Sanford, Kim (Keegan) Kult, Kristina (Eric) Swanson, Kory Oltrogge, Emily Berkeland, Andrea Berkeland; a great-grandson, Elijah Sanford; two sisters, Clara (Jim) Hansen of Battle Lake, Minn., Verna (Russ) Cochran of Rapid City, S.D.; one brother, Edwin (Lorraine) Berkland of Brookings, S.D.; one brother-in-law, Keith Meyer of White, S.D.; and two sisters-in-law, Marlys Berkland of Brookings and Phyllis Berkland of Sioux Falls. He was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers, and three sisters.

Marvin was a lifelong sportsman who especially enjoyed pheasant hunting and fishing trips to Canada. He also was very active in Sons of Norway, holding many offices including international director, was a candidate for international president in 2000, and traveled to Norway many times. He even changed the spelling of his name to fit the original Norwegian spelling. He never forgot his roots on the farm and was an avid gardener and eager volunteer when visiting the farm of a relative or friend.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 5, at First Lutheran Church in Lake City with Rev. Darren Paulson officiating. Burial will be held in Brookings, S.D., at a later date. Friends may call 1 hour before the service at the church. Mahn Family Funeral Home, Anderson-Peterson Chapel, is in charge of the services.