Darrell
Bakke, 60
Thief
River Falls - Darrell Bakke, 60, died on
Thursday, April 10, 2003 at his home in Thief River
Falls.
Funeral
services were held on Tuesday, April 15 at Redeemer
Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls with the Rev.
Karin Moberg officiating. Joyce Halbasch was the
organist and Vanessa Martell was the soloist.
Casketbearers were Warren Hanestad, Cliff Swanson,
Gordon Olson, Chuck Murphy, Dennis Bakke, Deland
Bakke, Jim Rogalla, Kevin Halme and Bob Carlson.
Honorary casketbearers were Darrell's employees,
Amber Anderson, Jennifer Emmert, Rachel Staebler,
Cynthia Busian, Gwen Olson, Barbara Holthusen,
Michelle Kruse and Keri Sorter, and all of
Darrell's business associates. Interment was in Oak
Grove Cemetery in Newfolden.
Darrell
Mylan Bakke was born on October 23, 1942, the son
of Magnus and Alice (Hall) Bakke, in Thief River
Falls. He was baptized and confirmed at Bethlehem
Lutheran Church in Newfolden. He attended Newfolden
Elementary School and graduated from Newfolden High
School in 1960.
On
February 15, 1964, he married Julie Halme in Middle
River.
Darrell
began his insurance business with Modern Woodman
Life Insurance in the early 1960s. Health insurance
became a second product for him with the addition
of Equitable's Health Insurance. This later became
the main focus of his business with the addition of
Principal and Blue Cross of Minnesota as his major
health insurance providers. He purchased Ulrich
Insurance with Orren Bendickson in 1991 and they
acquired Sorenson Insurance of Glenwood in 1993.
They formed Benefit Services, Inc. in 1994 as an
employee benefit administration company in Thief
River Falls. They then acquired Midwest Health
Benefits of Morris in 1998 and merged Sorenson into
that company. Midwest Health Benefits purchased
Stabler Insurance in Perham in 2002.
Darrell
was an avid golfer, hunter, cribbage player,
woodworker and snowmobiler. He enjoyed his hobby
farm and spending time at his cabin. He was a
member of Redeemer Lutheran Church, where he served
on the Church Council. Darrell was also a member of
the Thief River Falls Golf Club, Health
Underwriters and Life Underwriters. He served on
numerous insurance boards and committees and also
served on the Northwest Medical Center
Board.
Survivors
include the mother of his children, Julie Bakke of
Thief River Falls; two children, Heather (Joe)
Gallo of Cheyenne, Wyo., and Darren Bakke of Thief
River Falls; one grandson; his twin brother, David
(Marge) of Newfolden; one sister, Beverly Pederson
of Newfolden; and many nieces and
nephews.
Darrell
was preceded in death by one daughter, Holly Bakke;
his parents; his grandparents; a brother-in-law;
and one nephew.
A00003B2003AR16
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