Funeral services for Harold S. Bakken, age 69, of rural Albert Lea, will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, June 27, at the Central Freeborn Lutheran Church. The Rev. Linda Gunderson will officiate. Interment will be in the Central Freeborn Cemetery. Military honors will be accorded by area servicemen’s organizations. Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m., Wednesday, June 26, at the Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home, and one hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday.

Harold died on Saturday, June 22, 2002, at his home.

Harold Seivert Bakken was born on Oct. 20, 1932, in Albert Lea, the son of Henry and Selma (Deno) Bakken. As a young man, Harold worked as a hired man on several farms and for N. J. Nelson Gravel Company. He was drafted into the army in 1953 and served in the Korean Conflict until he was discharged in 1955. On May 19, 1956, Harold was united in marriage to Eunice Peterson at Central Freeborn Lutheran Church. He worked for Wilson and Co. for a couple of years, and then worked for Drug Supply. Harold began working for Wilson’s again in 1970 and continued until his retirement in 1995. He was currently working part-time as a deliveryman for the Clothing Care Center.

Harold was an active member of Central Freeborn Lutheran Church. Some of his activities there included the choir, the Brotherhood, church council, the joint church council, serving as an usher, as a member of the cemetery board, and as treasurer. He enjoyed his family, camping with his motor home, gardening, working in his orchard, taking projects to the fair, raising livestock, and riding bicycles on the bike trails. Harold was a devoted and loving husband, father, and grandpa. He loved the time he spent playing with his grandchildren. He will be sadly missed by all of his family and friends.

Survivors include his wife, Eunice of Albert Lea; his children: Timothy and his wife Lisa Bakken of Rochester, Cynthia and her husband Lonnie Otterson of Rochester, and Shari and her husband Roger Manges of Blooming Prairie; grandchildren: Lucas Bakken, Jared Bakken, Lilly Otterson, Jeannie Manges, Johnathan Manges, Jason Manges, and Julia Manges; step-grandchildren: Ryan Todd, Steven Todd, and Michael Todd; his parents, Selma and Henry Bakken of Albert Lea; brother, Donald and his wife Carcie Bakken of Mason City, Iowa; sister, Jeanette and her husband Roger Groskreutz of Wells; brother-in-law, Roger and his wife Donna Peterson of Clarks Grove; and many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.

Harold was preceded in death by his in-laws, Peter and Viola Peterson; an infant grandson; and by aunts and uncles.