Oklee - George Whalen, 89, died Monday, March 15, 1999 at Northwest Medical Center in Thief River Falls.
Mass of Christian Burial was held on Saturday, March 20 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Oklee with Father Joe Richards officiating. Barb Melby was the organist, and Donna Sherman and Lori Melby presented a duet. Mass servers were Stephen Whalen and Nathan Whalen. Casketbearers were Terry Whalen, Tim Whalen Jr., Paul Gehrls, Lee Gehrls, Joe Radniecki and Bob Radniecki. Honorary casketbearers were all of George's grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Burial was in St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Cemetery in Plummer. The Petterson Funeral Home of Oklee was in charge of the arrangements.
George Henry Whalen was born on June 20, 1909 in Equality township near Oklee, the son of Kerence and Margaret (Donahue) Whalen. He grew up near Oklee and attended Sunnyside Country School District 10.
On June 27, 1939 he was united in marriage to Esther Bluemke at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Oklee. George was a life-long farmer in Oklee and later worked as a welder at Arctco in Thief River Falls.
He was a member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church and enjoyed gardening, birds and wildlife, fishing, and spending time with his family.
George is survived by his wife, Esther of Oklee; three daughters, Sharon (Duane) Carriere of Seattle, WA, Joyce (Jerry) Johnson of Thief River Falls, and Angela (Dean) Radniecki of Hoyt Lakes; three sons, Mike (Sandy) Whalen of Thief River Falls, and Tim (Linda) Whalen and Greg (Deb) Whalen, both of Oklee; 20 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Joe Whalen of Thief River Falls and Tom Whalen of Huntington Beach, CA; and one sister, Hazel Whalen of Thief River Falls.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, James; and four sisters, Sr. Mary Linus, Emma Schirrick, Florence Whalen and one in infancy. A00003B1999MR24