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Palmer Bakken

Feb. 11, 1936 – Aug. 9, 2022

Palmer E. Bakken, 86,

Minot, formerly of Lignite,

ND died Tuesday, August

9, 2022 in a Minot nursing

home.

Palmer Ernest Bakken

was born on February 11,

1936, a son of Oscar and

Louise (Hoff) Bakken in

Noonan, ND. He was bap-

tized and confirmed at

Tonset Lutheran Church

and raised on the family

farm south of Lignite, ND.

In his younger years, he

attended country school

by the foothills near the

farm. He later attended

high school in Columbus,

ND where he stayed with

the Tveter family and gra-

duated from Columbus

High School in 1954. Im-

mediately following gra-

duation, he went to work

for a local paving com-

pany and was also a ranch

hand.

On November 22, 1955,

Palmer enlisted into the

United States Navy. He

proudly served his coun-

try aboard the USS Forre-

stal as a Radioman. Pal-

mer was able to see many

parts of the world during

his time of service and

was particularly fond of

Spain. His musical abili-

ties were noticed while he

played aboard the ship

alongside entertainers,

Buck Owens and Roy

Clark. He was honorably

discharged from his Naval

duties on October 2, 1959.

On October 14, 1960,

Palmer was united in mar-

riage to Betsy Matson at

Tonset Lutheran Church,

rural Lignite, ND. In 1961,

Palmer attended IBM

computer training in Des

Moines, IA. Upon comple-

tion of this school, they

moved to Bismarck where

he was employed by

Super Valu. In 1963, after

the sudden passing of his

Father, Palmer and Betsy

returned to the family

farm. It was here where

they raised their four chil-

dren, Derenda, Guy and

Grady. During these years

on the farm, Palmer and

his brother Landis raised

beef cattle, dairy cattle,

and small grains. In 1973,

Landis left the farm to

pursue a different career

path and in this same year

the dairy operation came

to a close. Palmer contin-

ued to farm and ranch,

until the 1990’s when he

went to work for T&M

farms (Ted and Mary

Hawbaker and Family) of

rural Portal, ND. In 1999,

Palmer and Besty decided

to move closer to their

grandkids and relocated

to Fargo, ND where he

was employed by General

Equipment for 10 years.

He loved being a part of

the General Equipment

family where he was able

to have several different

roles before his retirement

in 2009.

Palmer was an accom-

plished, self-taught accor-

dion player and could

play anything by ear. He

enjoyed playing in the

Dakota Drifters and when

that band dissolved, he

continued to play at local

dances and accordion

contests throughout North

Dakota. Palmer was a

hardworking, quiet, hum-

ble man, who would help

anyone that needed assis-

tance. He will be greatly

missed by his family and

friends.

Palmer is survived by:

Wife of 62 years, Betsy;

children: Derenda Ermi

(Dale) of Brenham, TX;

Darnelda Leary of Moor-

head, MN; Grady (Traci)

Bakken of Lignite, ND.

Grandchildren: Tess

Sobocinski, Brandon,SD;

Devin (Casey) Smith, Far-

go, ND; Ethan, Kyra, and

Corbin Bakken, Lignite,

ND. Great-grandchildren:

Silas and Meadow Sobo-

cinski.

Siblings: Landis (Betty)

Bakken of Eugene, OR and

Gloria (Steve) Gleave of

Fort Collins, CO.

Several nieces,

nephews and cousins also

survive.

Palmer was preceded in

death by his parents, and

son Guy Bakken in 2012.

Visitation: There will be

no reviewal, however,

friends may sign a guest

register on Tuesday, Au-

gust 16, 2022 from 4 until

6 pm at the Christ Luth-

eran Church, Lignite, ND

Memorial Service:

Wednesday, August 17,

2022 at 11 am at Christ

Lutheran Church in Lig-

nite.

Burial: Tonset

Cemetery, rural Lignite,

ND