1935
Orion
2017
Orion Bakken
August 30, 1935 — March 13, 2017
Orion Jerome Bakken, 81, died after a battle with cancer in his home with his wife and family by his side on Monday, March 13th, 2017. He was born on August 30th, 1935 in Appleton, MN, Swift County to Ole J. And Helen (Larson) Bakken. They lived in Milan, MN on the Larson homestead until Orion was 8 years old. They then moved to Montevideo for 4 years. Later they bought the Larson farm and moved back to Milan where he lived until 1953.
Orion attended grade school at District 49 a one room school house, through 8th grade and graduated from high school in 1953 from Milan, MN. He was baptized and confirmed at Milan Methodist Church. He joined the Army in December 1953 and spent 3 years as a sentry dog handler. He spent 15 months in Korea. He then went to Minneapolis where he spent 33 years driving semi at Mercury Century and retired in 1991. On October 18th, 1958 he married Kathryn Ivy Fogard and they lived in Minneapolis until 1965. They had 3 boys Mike, Greg and Brad. They moved to Stanchfield, MN and bought the old Bilander and Bismark farm. He was an avid collector of Farmall tractors in his retirement years and also enjoyed restoring them.
In 2006 they sold the farm to granddaughter Aliesha, had an auction and sold all of his Farmalls and then moved to Underwood, MN. This is where Kitty was born and raised. Orion loved to play cards and spent 3 times a week playing at the senior center. He also enjoyed once a month taking the senior bus to the casino where he also got cheaper cigs there!! The summer of 2015 he decided to restore a Honda 1974 Elsimore MR50 dirt bike used at Nascar for a pit bike, that model was made only 1 year. He enjoyed spending time with family and friends. He will be greatly missed, especially that bossy attitude of his.
He is survived by his wife, Kathryn, children - Mike Bakken & special friend (Sandy Hanson) of Stanchfield, MN, Greg Bakken & special friend (Kristi Boudreau) of Braham, MN, Daughter in law Terry Bakken & special friend (Jerry Kopp) of Stanchfield, MN; grandchildren - Aliesha (Danny) Boettcher of Stanchfield, MN, Reed (Kim) Bakken of Stanchfield, MN, Steve (Laura) Bakken of Cambridge, MN, and Brian Bakken of Andover, MN; and great grandchildren - Ashlyn, Paiton, Dakota, Conner, Westin, and Colbie, brother, Richard (Toots) Bakken of Cold Spring, MN and sister, Kathryn (Donald) Henkelman of Correll, MN.
He is preceded in death by his parents Ole and Helen Bakken, Sister Elna Hanson and Son Brad Bakken
The family requests that memorials may be made to Lakeland Hospice in the memory of Orion Bakken.
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A Celebration of Life will be 2 to 5 PM, Wednesday, March 29, 2017 at the Underwood Senior Center in Underwood, MN.
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A Celebration of Life will be 2:00 PM, Saturday, April 29, 2017, at the Braham Event Center in Braham, MN.
Orion's Memorial Folder
Orion attended grade school at District 49 a one room school house, through 8th grade and graduated from high school in 1953 from Milan, MN. He was baptized and confirmed at Milan Methodist Church. He joined the Army in December 1953 and spent 3 years as a sentry dog handler. He spent 15 months in Korea. He then went to Minneapolis where he spent 33 years driving semi at Mercury Century and retired in 1991. On October 18th, 1958 he married Kathryn Ivy Fogard and they lived in Minneapolis until 1965. They had 3 boys Mike, Greg and Brad. They moved to Stanchfield, MN and bought the old Bilander and Bismark farm. He was an avid collector of Farmall tractors in his retirement years and also enjoyed restoring them.
In 2006 they sold the farm to granddaughter Aliesha, had an auction and sold all of his Farmalls and then moved to Underwood, MN. This is where Kitty was born and raised. Orion loved to play cards and spent 3 times a week playing at the senior center. He also enjoyed once a month taking the senior bus to the casino where he also got cheaper cigs there!! The summer of 2015 he decided to restore a Honda 1974 Elsimore MR50 dirt bike used at Nascar for a pit bike, that model was made only 1 year. He enjoyed spending time with family and friends. He will be greatly missed, especially that bossy attitude of his.
He is survived by his wife, Kathryn, children - Mike Bakken & special friend (Sandy Hanson) of Stanchfield, MN, Greg Bakken & special friend (Kristi Boudreau) of Braham, MN, Daughter in law Terry Bakken & special friend (Jerry Kopp) of Stanchfield, MN; grandchildren - Aliesha (Danny) Boettcher of Stanchfield, MN, Reed (Kim) Bakken of Stanchfield, MN, Steve (Laura) Bakken of Cambridge, MN, and Brian Bakken of Andover, MN; and great grandchildren - Ashlyn, Paiton, Dakota, Conner, Westin, and Colbie, brother, Richard (Toots) Bakken of Cold Spring, MN and sister, Kathryn (Donald) Henkelman of Correll, MN.
He is preceded in death by his parents Ole and Helen Bakken, Sister Elna Hanson and Son Brad Bakken
The family requests that memorials may be made to Lakeland Hospice in the memory of Orion Bakken.
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A Celebration of Life will be 2 to 5 PM, Wednesday, March 29, 2017 at the Underwood Senior Center in Underwood, MN.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A Celebration of Life will be 2:00 PM, Saturday, April 29, 2017, at the Braham Event Center in Braham, MN.
Orion's Memorial Folder
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