The funeral service for Grant L. Bakken, of rural Alden, will be held at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 20, at Redeemer Lutheran Church, Alden. The Rev. Peter Soli will officiate. Interment will be in the Carlston Cemetery, rural Alden. Military honors will be accorded. Visitation will be from 4-6 p.m. today at Bonnerup Funeral Service, Albert Lea, and one hour before service at the church.

Grant died at his home on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2003. He was 84 years old.

Grant was born in Albert Lea Township on March 22, 1919, the son of Oswald and Kristine (Kristinsen) Bakken. He was baptized and confirmed at First Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. He attended school at District #110 on South Broadway and then worked at Western Grocery and Queen Stove Mfg. before entering the service. He served our country in the U.S. Army with the Webster City, Iowa, unit. He served during World War II from April 14, 1941, until his honorable discharge in 1944. He was in Company E ,133rd Infantry, 34th Division, serving in Ireland, England, North Africa and Italy, where he was wounded. Grant was a recipient of a Purple Heart.

When he returned home he began farming in rural Alden and was married to Eva M. Pedersen on Oct. 1, 1945, at the First Lutheran Church, Albert Lea.

Grant was a member of the Redeemer Lutheran Church in Alden where he had served as council president. Grant was a member of the Alden American Legion for more than 50 years and a member of the Albert Lea VFW. Throughout his life he cared for many animals of all kinds and the last few years enjoyed feeding the deer. Grant had received several conservation awards for his farming practices.

Grant is survived by his son, Keith Bakken and wife Barbara of Alden; grandchildren: Nicole Ward of Alden and fianc Derik Brown, Kirk Petersen and wife Dana of Conger, and Mindy Petersen of Alden; great-grandchildren: Kendall and Kylee Ward, Elissa and Brianna Brown, Zack and Lacy Petersen, and Rachael Petersen; sister, Lillian Perkins of Albert Lea; brother, Manly Bakken and wife Ethel of Alden; sisters-in-law: Lorraine Bakken of Albert Lea, and Rozella Pedersen of Alden; brother-in-law, Morris Pedersen and wife Eleanor of Albert Lea; aunt, Frida Ostby of Albert Lea; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.