John Arnold Bakken

WIBAUX, MONTANA: John Arnold Bakken, age 84, passed away on Wednesday, May 2, 2012 at his home in Wibaux. Visitation will be from 10:00 A.M. until 12:00 P.M. and 1:00 P.M. until 5:00 P.M. and 6:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. on Monday, May 7, 2012 at the Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home in Wibaux. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Tuesday, May 8, 2012 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Wibaux with Reverend J.T. Burk officiating. Interment will follow in the Wibaux Cemetery in Wibaux. Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home of Wibaux has been entrusted with the arrangements. Arnold was born on September 2, 1927 in Blatchford Prairie, Montana, a son of Earland Peter and Hannah (Flatmoe) Bakken. In 1934, when he was seven years old, his family moved to Wibaux where they bought the Bakken family’s original homestead. He attended various schools all the way up to the eighth grade at which time his parents needed him to help on the ranch. In 1954, Arnold was helping farm south of Sentinel Butte, North Dakota for Richard Zinsli, where he met his future wife Irene Zinsli. They became a couple on New Years Eve of 1954, and were united in marriage in Sentinel Butte on September 2, 1957. They continued to live on the Bakken ranch for six years and had their first three children, who were all born in the Beach Hospital. Arnold moved his family to Oregon in 1963 for one year while attending school to be a Heavy Equipment Operator. In 1964, Arnold began working for Ben Lamer doing carpentry work until 1968. At this time he moved his family to Des Moines, Washington where he worked for Boeing Aircraft until 1970. Arnold, Irene and all six children packed up and moved back to Oregon in 1972, and bought the family home where all the children and also a few of the grandchildren were raised. He began working for Ben Lamer once more until 1978, and in 1980 he worked for Oregon Home Improvements as a finish carpenter, laborer, maintenance, and also repairing insured damages to homes until 1986. While his children were growing up Arnold enjoyed spending time with his family. He would take them camping in the mountains of Oregon and along the coastline. Every summer Arnold would plan a trip back to Montana and North Dakota so his children could visit their grandparents, aunts and uncles. When arriving in Wibaux, friends and family would always know it was the Bakken family because of the infamous blue camper which he himself revised yearly to accommodate his growing family and to add innovative conveniences. In the late 1980's Arnold and Irene were making regular trips to Wibaux to help the family take care of his mother, Hannah Bakken. Arnold was often called upon by neighbors and friends for his well known carpentry and repair-man skills. He and Irene enjoyed dancing and were very excellent dancers. He loved to talk with people, you could always find him carrying on a friendly and often lengthy conversation with someone you would later find was a complete stranger. Arnold also loved wood working and had all kinds of inventions, he even had one of them patented. Any free time Arnold had would be working in his shop. His children and grandchildren remember him the best as being simply quiet but observant most of the time. When he did choose to say something he chose his words carefully, as well as making sure it was the appropriate time to speak, but always making sure his words were poignant and sensible to where it would make you often change your view and attitude towards things. Arnold was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Sig, Harold, and Erling; and a sister, Gudrun. He is survived by his wife, Irene of Wibaux; five daughters, Bonnie (Frank) Edwards of Elgin, Oregon, Deanna (Kevin) Bany of Canby, Oregon, Tammy (Dwaine) Plummer of Spokane, Washington, Mary Jane (Brad) Fields of Parkman, Wyoming and Kelly (Jason) Smith of Gresham, Oregon; one son, Kevin Bakken of Wibaux; two brothers, Peter (Stella) Bakken of Glendive, Montana, and Leif (Claudia) Bakken of Wibaux; eighteen grandchildren, Brett, Julie, Trevor, Kim, Adam, Wade, Aaron, Curtis, Jordon, Amanda, Karra, Shelby, Brooke, Jamie, Ryan, Jessica, Jeromy and Michael, eighteen great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at: www.silvernale-silhafuneralhome.com.

John Arnold Bakken

September 2, 1927 - May 8, 2012

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John Arnold Bakken

September 2, 1927 - May 8, 2012

What We Do

Flowers & Gifts

Plan Ahead

About Us

Resources

Obituaries

Grief & Healing

Contact Information

365 Days of Grief Support