Milford Rokke Newfolden, MN, age 97 died on Saturday, February 23, 2013 at Sanford Hospital in Thief River Falls, MN with his daughter, Harriet at his side. Funeral service will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, March 2, 2013 at New Hope Lutheran Church in Newfolden, MN with Pastor Ollie Urdahl officiating. Burial will follow at Bethania Cemetery rural Newfolden, MN. Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM with a 7:00 PM prayer service on Friday, March 1, 2013 at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls, MN. Visitation will also be held one hour prior to the funeral on Saturday at New Hope Lutheran Church. Theodore Milford Rokke was born on November 8, 1915 in the West Valley Township, Newfolden, MN. He was the tenth child out of twelve born to Eleseus and Kristi (Lind) Rokke. He was baptized and confirmed into the Lutheran faith and received his education at the West Valley School having perfect attendance most of those years. He stayed on the farm to help out for nine years and then went back to school, attending the Northwest School of Agriculture in Crookston, MN graduating in 1941as vice-president of his class. Milford returned to the farm and worked it until retiring at the age of 89. Milford was united in marriage to Irene Hansen, a native of Newfolden, in 1942. They lived on their farm raising small grains and potatoes until 1986 when their farm was awarded the status of Century Farm. This same year, Milford and Irene moved to Newfolden because of Irene's failing health, but he continued working the farm together with his son, Howard who started renting the farm in 1981. He enjoyed going out to the farm on a regular basis to keep the yards mowed, "checking things out", and just having coffee out there! Milford enjoyed visits with relatives, friends, and even strangers, asking them who they were. He enjoyed his trips to California, Oregon, Hawaii, and the Twin Cities and other places where relatives lived. Relatives welcomed and entertained him. He also enjoyed hunting with his old gang and walleye fishing, but most of all, he enjoyed being out in the tractor tilling the soil. Milford was just wonderful with numbers, he always said the girls were better with spelling, but he was better in math. Milford loved his son and family and daughter and family, and was able to spend time with all of them in his later years. He spent the last Thanksgiving in Minneapolis visiting his daughter and granddaughter's family and Christmas at his son's home with their family. Milford was a member of Bethania Lutheran, Bethlehem Lutheran, New Hope Lutheran Church of Newfolden, Newfolden Senior Citizens and was a Senior Volunteer. He served on the board of the Newfolden Co-Op Elevator for 33 years, was president for 15 years and also served 18 years on the Newfolden Community Senior Home Board. Loving family members include son, Howard (Jo Anne) of Thief River Falls, MN; daughter, Harriet of Coon Rapids, MN; three grandchildren, Kim (Brad) Butalla of Big Lake, MN, Kris (Cherie) Rokke of Sugar Grove, IL, and Kyle (Lauren) Rokke of Minneapolis, MN; three great-grandchildren, Sydney and Brooks Butalla and Anika Rokke. Milford also leaves one sister-in-law, Iola Rokke of Thief River Falls and many nieces and nephews from all over the U.S. He was preceded in death by his wife, Irene in 1990; his parents; five sisters, Nella, Ottine, Inga, Edna and Doris; and six brothers, Ingvald, Helmer, Edwin, Oscar, Reynold and Norman.