Earnest Earnie Balken

Earnest “Earnie” J. Balken, 86, a resident of rural Rothsay, died, Thursday, October 2, 2014, at his home.

Earnie was born on March 6, 1928 on the family farm in Rothsay, the son of Julius J. and Emma (Fosse) Balken. He attended the Country School Number 5 in Akron Township and one semester at the Morris Agriculture School in Morris. When he started school he could only speak Norwegian so the other kids would make fun of him, so he quickly learned how to speak English, however he still enjoyed speaking Norwegian.

On November 5, 1960, he married Joyce E. Nelson in Vining. Joyce died on April 22, 1963. On April 22, 1972, he married Elaine L. Baumgartner at the St. Thomas Church in Kent. For 60 years he farmed on his Century Farm. He hauled potatoes and sugar beets for Leonard Butenhoff and Sons for 12 years and he worked road construction as well as being employed at Great Northern Railroad for eight years.

He was in the Army serving in Korea during the Korean War from November 1950 through August 1952, with the rank of S.F.C. Army Sect. Infantry Combat Leader for Co. B-1st Battalion 5th regimen, 1st Calvary Division Korea. He was wounded twice, in the head and leg. He earned many honors and awards in the Army including two Purple Hearts, Korean War Medal, Korea Award, National Defense Award, Efficiency Honor and Fidelity Award, Korean Service Award, Army of Occupation Award and Expert Rifle.

Earnie was a lifetime member of the V.F.W. Post 612 in Fergus Falls, American Legion of Rothsay, and a lifetime member of Hamar Lutheran Church, now, New Life Lutheran Parish.

He enjoyed being around kids, woodworking, gardening, picking rocks, taking a load of grain to the elevator, riding his three wheeler, mowing the grass, dancing and listening to music, playing keyboard and guitar and tinkering with his John Deere toys. He liked to fish and deer hunt. Earnie also enjoyed making an assortment of Norwegian goodies, quilting in the winter months and keeping the farm up to date.

Preceding him in death were his parents, Julius and Emma; first wife, Joyce; sisters, Evelyn (Melvin) Bilden, Eunice (Morris) Bergerud ; brothers William “Bill”, Fred (Hazel), Lester (Marjorie), Roy (Ione), Vernon, Leonard (Christeva), and an Infant Brother; mother and father in-law, Mary and William “Bill” Baumgartner and Jerald and Hazel Nelson; brothers-in-law, Bob Griffin, Don Barrett; and also his pets, dogs, Rex, Blackie, Tena and Mitzy; cats, Peanut and Pokey, and his kitten, Angie.

Survivors include, his wife, Elaine L., Rothsay; sisters, Jane Griffin,Provo Utah, Clarice Barrett, Portland , Oregon; brothers, Jerome (Sherrill), Renton, Washington, Loren (Marlene), Fairbault, MN; a sister-in-law, Darlene Balken, Minneapolis, MN, along with many nieces and nephews.

Visitation: One hour prior to service at the church.
Service: 1:00 p.m. Monday October 6, 2014 at New Life Lutheran Parish, Rothsay
Clergy: Reverend Paul Huso and Reverend Leon Andersen
Interment: Hamar Cemetery, Rothsay with Military Participation by Fergus Falls VFW Post 612
Funeral Home: Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls, Minnesota