Obituary for Mervin Bakke

Funeral services were held on Friday, March 24, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. at Elim Lutheran Brethren Church in Clearbrook, Minnesota with a visitation an hour prior. An evening of visitation was held on Thursday, March 23, 2023 from 5:00 -7:00 p.m. with a Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m. at the Cease Family Funeral Home in Bagley, MN. Interment will be held in the spring at Elim Lutheran Cemetery. The Cease Family Funeral Home of Bagley assisted the family with arrangements. 

Mervin Bakke was born on February 11, 1941, in Bagley, Minnesota, to Melvin and Helen (Eck) Bakke of Gonvick, Minnesota.  He grew up on a farm in Gonvick with two sisters and five brothers.  He married Lynette Satran on September 3, 1966, at Elim Lutheran Brethren Church in Clearbrook. He was the loving father of three children, Cheryl, Brian and Colleen.  Mervin and Lynette lived in Chaska for five years before returning to Gonvick in 1971.  After moving back, he worked for various pipeline companies and retired after thirty plus years to enjoy his family.  

He was a member of Elim Lutheran Brethren Church in Clearbrook, MN, and also served as a trustee. He enjoyed volunteering at the Clearwater County Food Shelf, and being a member of Sons of Norway in Fosston, MN.  In the summer of 2011, Mervin and Lynette enjoyed their long-awaited trip to Norway, which became a highlight of all their travels.

Anybody that knew Merv, knew his amazing strength, sweet disposition and his sincerity.  For Merv, life was always in fast-forward, he drove fast and liked things done now! His interests included hunting, fishing, woodworking and watching his grandchildren’s sporting events. He especially loved spending time with his wife and grandchildren and telling stories during a cup of coffee with neighbors and friends.  Merv was never too busy to share time with his loved ones!

Merv is survived by his loving wife, Lynette, of 56 years, daughter, Cheryl (Tom) Stenzel, son, Brian (Jenny) Bakke, and son-in-law, Michael Knoop (Melissa). Grandchildren, Madison (Joe Woods), Tristan, Damen, Danae, William and Hanna; siblings, Wayne (Kathy), Bruce (Judy), David (Renae), Norman and Brenda (Rick) Skarison, and many other loved family and friends.  He is preceded in death by his daughter, Colleen (Bakke) Knoop; parents, Melvin and Helen; sister, Judy; brother, Randy; brother-in-law, Donny Haugen; father and mother-in-Law, Albert and Emma Satran; and nephew, Jesse Hendrickson.

Messages of condolence may be sent to ceasefuneralhome.com