Bernard Felling

Bernard N. Felling, age 85, of Litchfield died on Friday, April 2, 2010 at the St. Cloud Hospital. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 AM on Thursday, April 8, 2010 at St. Gertrude’s Catholic Church in Forest City. Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM on Wednesday, April 7, 2010 with a parish prayer service at 7:30 PM at the Johnson-Hagglund Funeral Home. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at church. Interment will be in the Lake Ripley Cemetery with Military Honors by the Litchfield Military Honor Guard. Bernard Norbert Felling, the son of Joseph and Veronica (Laubach) Felling, was born on March 8, 1925, in Elrosa, MN. He grew up in that area and attended Belgrade High School. Bernard moved to Cleveland in 1940 and worked at various jobs before becoming a cook at a large restaurant. At Age 18 he went to work in a foundry. In 1943, he enlisted in the US Army Air Corp and served as a gunner. After the service he returned to Minnesota and worked in St. Cloud for a short time as a meat cutter. On July 9, 1946 he married Lorraine Schiemann. In 1953, he moved to Litchfield and worked for Clarence Silverberg. In 1955 he and Harvey Silverberg bought the business from Clarence. Two years later he bought Harvey’s share in the business. On January 8, 1965 he was united in marriage to Gladys Miller in Watertown, SD. Bernard bought the old Ford garage on West Depot in 1970 and remodeled it into a supermarket with his son Ken. Twenty three years later he sold everything to Ken and retired. Bernard was a member of the VFW and American Legion. He was very proud of St. Gertrude’s Church and was a faithful member. He enjoyed playing cards, shooting pool, fishing, hunting and golfing. Bernard enjoyed traveling and prospected for gold in Utah. He loved spending time on the six acres he owned north of Litchfield where he planted an apple orchard. He enjoyed being with people and will be remembered among other things as an avid Twins fan. He is survived by his wife Gladys of Litchfield, children; Kenneth (and Dorothy) Felling of Litchfield, Barbara (and Gary) Berosik of St. Paul, Don (and Jean) Felling of Plymouth and Charles (and Karen) Felling of Apple Valley, grandchildren; Anthony Felling, Lisa (and Joe) Meierhofer, Erik Bostrom, Sarah Wimmer, Kellie Heinen and Emily Felling, one great grandson Logan Meierhofer. He is also survived by his brothers; Cyril Felling of Sauk Centre, Ernest Felling of Cleavland, OH, Rudolph Felling of St. Cloud, sisters; Delores (and Howard) Handeland of Cottage Grove, Loverna Henning of CA, Dorothy (and Francis) Unger of Sauk Centre, Shirley (and David) Goering of Crookston, and Georgia (and Jerry) Rooney of Belgrade. He was preceded in death by his daughter Carol Bostrom, sisters; Madeline Roe and Bertha Felling, brothers; Wilfred Felling, Joseph “Buddy” Felling and Gary Felling.