Dennis A. Lokken

Dennis A. Lokken, age 85, of Litchfield, MN, died on Wednesday, May 29, 2013 at Ecumen Emmanuel of Litchfield. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday, June 3rd at Zion Lutheran Church in Litchfield with Pastor Christian Muellerleile officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Military honors will be provided by the Litchfield Military Honor Guard. Interment will be held at Palmyra Cemetery in Hector at a later date. Memorials are preferred to Zion Lutheran Church or the Litchfield Lions. Dennis Arthur Lokken, son of Oscar and Genora (Sweno) Lokken, was born on October 2, 1927 in Milan, MN. His mother died when he was 3 years old and he was raised by his dad, eldest sister and his maternal grandmother. At the age of 15 he went to Seattle to work in the ship yards and returned to Milan, MN, attending and graduating from Milan High School in 1945. He received a football scholarship to attend Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. However, in 1946, he was drafted into the Army, serving mostly in Guam. After his honorable discharge in 1947, he continued his education at the St. Cloud State Teachers College, graduating with a Bachelor's degree. On July 21, 1951, he was united in marriage to Joyce Ytterboe at Palmyra Lutheran Church in Hector, MN. Dennis taught and coached basketball in Belview, MN from 1951 - 1956. He then taught and coached basketball in Kerkhoven, MN from 1956 - 1966, during which time he received his Masters Degree in Administration in Aberdeen, South Dakota. In 1966, he began working as a principal in Morgan, MN and moved to Litchfield in 1970, where he was the principal until his retirement in 1985. He lovingly became the caregiver for Joyce during her illness. He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, the Litchfield Lions Club, the Sons of Norway and the Litchfield Golf Club. Dennis enjoyed traveling, wood carving, golfing, fishing, reading, having coffee and shaking dice with his friends and baking his famous sugar cookies. He liked to participate in and watch many sports. He loved the beauty of Norway and taught himself how to speak and read the language. He was always a gentleman and will be remembered for his faith, honesty, respect for others, and his sense of humor. Dennis is survived by his daughters, Dorene Carlson and her husband Greg Carlson of Zimmerman, MN; Rebecca Lokken and her husband Dan Homolka, of Edina, MN, Kristin Lokken and her husband Matt Bies of Zimmerman, MN, Kari Lokken, of Maple Grove, MN, Kathryn Lokken-Cox and her husband Butch Cox of Hanover, MN; grandchildren, Josh Carlson, Anna Peterson and her husband Jon, Amanda Ritz and her husband Matt, Michael Homolka, Kate Homolka and her fiancé Brett Stone, Hunter Bies, Marshall Bies, Grace Lokken, Kelsey Cox, Mason Cox and Kylie Cox; great grandson, Anders Peterson; brother Orville ""Buck"" Lokken of Brea, CA; niece Rita Jagow, nephews Mike Huseby, Jim Lokken and Tom Vegors; and many cousins and friends. He is preceded in death by his wife Joyce, his parents Oscar and Genora Lokken, his father and mother-in-law Anton and Hilda Ytterboe and his sisters Gladys, Luella, and Dorene.Previous Events Visitation Monday, June 3, 2013 10:00 AM Zion Lutheran Church 504 North Gilman Avenue Litchfield, MN 55355 Visitation Monday, June 3, 2013 11:00 AM Zion Lutheran Church 504 North Gilman Avenue Litchfield, MN 55355