Gertrude Loken

Gertrude (Mrs. Alfred) Loken 94, a former Carlisle, MN resident died Saturday February 16, 2008 at the ARK - Hospice Care Center in Anoka, MN. She was born on May 19, 1913 in Owatonna, MN the daughter of George and Blanche (Crippen) Burke. She moved with her family to Leal, ND where the family farmed until June of 1917 when they moved to Fergus Falls, MN. She graduated from Fergus Falls High School in 1931, Fergus Falls Teachers Training Department in 1932 and from the Minnesota Business College in 1933. She was then employed as a secretary of the Fergus Falls Credit Bureau from 1933 until 1940. On June 2, 1940 she married Alfred Loken at the St. James Episcopal Church, Fergus Falls. They lived their married life on a century farm near Carlisle. Gertrude was always active in her church. She held many offices in the ALCW at Hedemarken Church, the district and state levels. She taught Sunday School for over 25 years and sang in the church choir. She was an enthusiastic Campfire Girl leader, the director of a community Shakespeare acting club, a 4-H Club leader and director of many of their plays. She loved gardening, was a fabulous cook and gracious hostess. The thrashing and silo filling crews loved working at the Loken farm (mostly for the food)! Over the years she won many prizes for her baking. Preceding her in death were her husband, Alfred and three brothers, Harold, Richard and Kenneth Burke. Survivors include two daughters, Blanche (Harland) Floden of Roseville and Beth Gedde of Brooklyn Park; one son, Peter (Jeanne) Loken of Tyler, TX; 8 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Memorials are preferred to the Hedemarken Cemetery Fund. Visitation: 6:30-8:00 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home Service: 11:00 a.m. Monday at Hedemarken Lutheran Church Clergy: Rev. Marv Abrahamson Internment: Hedemarken Cemetery rural Carlisle Funeral Home: Olson Funeral Home, Fergus Falls Condolences may be sent online at www.olsonfuneralhome.com