This is a time for gathering all the best of a good life into the pages of memory, to be held in the heart forever.
85 year old Marvin Thompson Bronken of Oklee, MN passed away peacefully on March 1, 2008 at the Pioneer Memorial Care Center in Erskine.

The funeral service will be held on Saturday, March 8, 2008 at 11:00 am at Zion Lutheran Church in Oklee, MN with Reverend Robert Paulson Officiating. Burial will be held in the St. Francis Xavier Church Cemetery Oklee.

Visitation will be held on Friday evening March 7, 2008 from 5:00 -with a 7:00 pm prayer service at the Johnson Funeral Home in Oklee, MN

To the great surprise and delight of his parents, Hjalmer and Clara Bronken, Marvin the youngest of their five children was born on July 6, 1922. Hjalmer was a section foreman on the railroad and kept the family moving around Minnesota and North Dakota for much of the early years of Marvin's life. During his teenage years, the family settled in Niagara, ND where in 1939, Marv graduated from high school. After graduation, he moved to the big city of Grand Forks, ND and worked in an insurance office until he felt the call of duty and enlisted in the army.

Like many young men of "the Greatest Generation" World War II changed and shaped the rest of his life. He spent the war years as a map reader in the Pacific islands of Hawaii and Guam. 1945, the war ended, Marv came home to North Dakota and thanks to the GI Bill, he became the very first of his family to go to college. At UND, Marv had another life changing event; he met his future wife and love of his life, Joan O'Connor. Marv and Joan graduated from college and married two days later on June 13, 1949. They moved to McVille, ND where Marv was a teacher and very proud Coach of a basketball team that took 3rd place in the North Dakota state tournaments. In the seven years at McVille, Marv and Joan had the first four of their seven children and made many life long friends.

In 1956, Marv, Joan and their little redheads moved to Oklee, MN, where for fifteen years Marv served as the Oklee High School Principal until 1971 when he became the Superintendent of Schools. During this time, they added three more children to complete their family. For Marv, Oklee School was more than just a job, it was his vocation and he felt a strong personal commitment to the students, school and the community of Oklee.

After 30 years of service in Minnesota, they retired from "active duty" in 1986. There was no slowing down during the retirement years. Marv served as a substitute Superintendent at the Goodridge school, first Director of the Community Education Program, President of the Community Club, volunteer teacher of the 55 Alive Classes, volunteer senior reporter for the Oklee Herald, a member of the American Legion, Frank Lund Post #159 for over 60 years and a very active member of the Zion Lutheran Church of Oklee.

Marv is survived by his children, Barb (Cliff) Melby, Oklee, MN, Beth (Neil) Carlson, Crookston, MN, Holly Bronken, Minneapolis, MN, Jim (Tracy) Bronken, Boise, ID, Margaret (Bob) Olmstead, Boise, ID, Rich Bronken, Pueblo West, Co, Pete (Leah) Bronken, Zimmerman, MN; grandchildren, Isaac (Marcella) Melby, Jacob (Cindy) Melby, Erin (Kevin) Crawford, Maura Stadem, Bridget Carlson, Tucker Bronken, Jack Bronken, Jamie (Jay) Douglas, Shauna Knutson, Andy Olmstead, Dan Olmstead, Derek Bronken, Sara Bronken, Daenon Bronken, Morgan Bronken; great grandchildren, Kyla, Chance, Sydney, Karena, Lauren, Dana, Tatum and Simone. He is also survived by his sister Gladys Erickson.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Joan; parents, Hjalmer and Clara Bronken; brothers, Erwin, Francis and his sister Agnes Hildremyr.

CASKETBEARERS: Cliff Melby, Neil Carlson, Bob Olmstead; grandsons, Isaac Melby, Jacob Melby, Andrew Olmstead, Daniel Olmstead, Derek Bronken, Tucker Bronken and Jack Bronken.