OBITUARY: Gena Josephine Bakken, Worth County, Iowa Gena Josephine Bakken 1903-2001 [Northwood Anchor Newspaper online - www.northwoodanchor.com - October 09, 2001] Services held for Bakken Gena Josephine Bakken, 98, of Northwood, died Monday, Oct. 1, 2001, at the Lutheran Retirement Home in Northwood. Funeral services were Friday, Oct. 5, at the First Lutheran Church, Northwood, with Rev. Paul Holmer officiating. Burial was in the Sunset Rest Cemetery in Northwood. Conner Colonial Chapel of Northwood was in charge of the services. Gena Josephine Bakken was born on May 6, 1903, at Northwood, the only American born member of Ole J. and Marie (Talle) Bakken. She was baptized by the Rev. O.G.U. Siljan at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Northwood, and reaffirmed the faith of her baptism through confirmation on May 20, 1917, by the Rev. Hans Fosnes. She attended and received her education in the Northwood School system, graduating from Northwood High School in 1921. She taught in Silver Lake No. 1 for two years. A Normal Training class trained her for this. In 1925, she graduated from the Lutheran Bible Institute in St. Paul, MN. On the basis of this training, she became a parish worker for the Rev. T.F. Gullixson; she also was a parish worker for the Rev. Elmer S. Hjortland at Eau Claire, WI, at Grace Lutheran Church. She was also a parish worker in Minot, ND. In 1930, she went back to rural school teaching for three years at Deer Creek No. 6. The following two years, she stayed at home to help her ailing parents. Her mother died during this time. She taught in Grove No. 1 in 1936, and also taught in Silver Lake No. 1, for another three years. From 1936 to 1943, she attended the University of Minnesota from which she graduated in June 1943, with majors in English and Library Science. Her library experience was in the North Dakota State Library Commission in Bismarck, ND, Rochester Public Library and the Alexandria, Minnesota Public Library where she was the city librarian for 16 years. She remained in Alexandria until she decided to move back to Northwood in April 1980. She had her church membership transferred to wherever she lived and was active in teaching Sunday school, Bible classes and headed organizations such as Luther League, Lutheran Daughters of the Reformation, circles and Ladies Aid. She also belonged to professional organizations such as the teacher's organization, the American Library Association, and kept her membership in the Rochester Branch of the American Association of University Women. She was a member of First Lutheran Church in Northwood, and sang in the church choirs in Northwood and Minot. Left to cherish her memory are nephews and nieces, Howard Bakken of Plymouth, Mary (Mrs. Paul) Nystuen of Northfield, MN, Arlene Ludwig of Oakland, CA, Jeanette (Mrs. Bud Chambers) of Grand Forks, ND, Beverly Ray (Mrs. Don) of Mesa, AZ, Glenn Bye of St. Paul, MN and Karl Bakken of San Diego, CA.; as well as other relatives and friends. Her parents, her four sisters, Gertrude, Juliane, Grace, Anna and her three brothers, John, Ole and Harold preceded her in death. Copyright (c) 2001 by Kermit Kittleson; This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives. (Note: I am not necessarily related to the subject of the obituary.) **************************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material,must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. ****************************************************************************