1921
Mervyne
2008
Mervyne Felton
October 16, 1921 — September 1, 2008
Our dear Wife, Mom, Grandmother and Great-Grandmother, Mervyne Ruth (Bonhus) Felton, peacefully passed on to be with her Lord on Monday, September 1, 2008 at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester.
Mom’s strong faith and ‘never give up’ attitude guided her through strokes, rehabilitation and years of many serious health issues. Mom was 86 years young.
She was born at home on the family farm in Wanamingo Township, rural Kenyon, to Selma (Nesseth) and Arthur Bonhus on October 16, 1921. She had one brother, Jergen Bonhus.
She attended country school #61 through the 8th grade, only a half mile from her home. From there she attended and graduated from Kenyon High School in 1940 with honors.
Growing up a farmer’s daughter, she was a member of Holden Lutheran Church, sang in the choir, and was involved in Luther League and 4-H.
One of her dreams was to be a teacher. She completed the two year Normal Training in Cannon Falls to become a rural school teacher at Jackson School District #60 for two years and the Underdahl School District #54 for one year.
One of her favorite activities was roller skating at the skating rink above Lee Chevrolet in Cannon Falls. One evening, she asked Arnie Felton to skate with her. The young Randolph farmer captured her heart and three years later, they married. On September 21, 1945, Arnie and Mervyne exchanged marriage vows at Holden Lutheran Church in rural Kenyon and 63 years later, they have truly shared the good times and the bad, the better and the worse, and in sickness and in health. Their vows meant more to each other with each passing year. Best friends, lovers, best buddies, parents, working business partners, traveling pals; everything they did – they did together.
They farmed their entire lives in rural Randolph, on Felton Avenue (coincidentally named after Mom and Dad) until moving to Lake Byllesby in 1976. Besides raising chickens to sell the eggs for grocery money and helping with hogs and cattle, Mom was an incredible farmer’s wife and homemaker. From driving tractors and trucks to running grain dryers and lunches to Dad in the fields, canning, baking, freezing, substitute teaching at Randolph, working part-time at Kraft’s Family Clothing store in Cannon Falls, mending, patching, needlework, raising a family of three children, teaching Sunday School, and tending her garden and beautifully planned flower beds.
In 1966, Mom and Dad took a big risk and were the first to install a center pivot irrigation system in Dakota County, which changed not only their lives to enjoy a successful future, but paved the way for agriculture in this region to flourish with irrigation.
Mom was a lifetime and active member of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Randolph, since 1947. She was president of the Ladies Aid ELCA, member of WELCA and Faith Circle, volunteered, worked and served on many church committees, taught Sunday school and confirmation, leader for Gopher 4H Club, education secretary for the Cannon River Conference working with 40 churches in the Lutheran Church, then ELCA, charter member of Lutheran Brotherhood in St. Mark’s, Luther League leader, started the church library, co-chartered the Randolph Community Blood Drive, supported the Red Wing Shuffle Cancer Walk and received recognition for being a sponsor and a cancer survivor.
Mom and Dad enjoyed traveling in their motor home. They were in every state (except for 7) in the U.S. They went on an Alaskan cruise, Hawaii, Norway to find her family heritage, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Figi, Nova Scotia, El Salvador, and Canadian Providences.
Devoted to her family, she loved her husband, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren; they were her joy in life. She loved music, singing hymns, playing her organ, reading, crocheting, knitting, fishing and sitting by the campfire at Long Lake up north by Hibbing, and living by Lake Byllesby. She was proud of being 100% Norwegian, spoke Norsk, and is a third cousin to Queen Sonja of Norway.
She kept a daily diary for all of nearly 60 years documenting her life and daily events as a farm housewife, put together a ‘Family Recipe’ book for our family and a Grandmother’s Book for each grandchild. Her personal passion in life was her flowers and gardening.
We will miss Mom. Christmas Eve with the lutefisk, lefse and Norwegian table grace. Her genuine sunshine smile and hearty laugh; her happy personality and fun sense of humor; an emotionally and mentally strong and vibrant woman who was totally supportive and extremely proud of her family. She gave everything and asked for nothing in return. We are so very proud to have had our Mother in our lives. She was the greatest role model and mentor and we thank her from the bottom of our hearts for everything.
She is survived by her loving husband, Arnie of almost 63 years (only 21 days until their 63rd wedding anniversary); two sons, Douglas (Nora) Felton of Cannon Falls, Dennis (Sherry) Felton of Dallas Center, IA; one daughter, Dorris (Jeffrey) Wallof of Cannon Falls; seven grandchildren, Chris (Julie) Felton, Chad Felton (friend Lori), Cassy (Travis) Tufty, Miranda and Bryson Felton, Mitch (Shawna) Felton, and Sarah (Matt) Wachowski; eleven great-grandchildren, Shelby, Emma, Lily, Roar, Harley and Fredrick Felton, Dallas, Charles and William Tufty, Anthony Felton, and Alena Mervyne Wachowski; four sisters-in-law, three brothers-in-law; and many nieces, nephews and dear friends.
Her parents and brother preceded her in death.
Funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, September 5 at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Randolph. Interment will follow at the Lakeside Cemetery, near Randolph. Dinner will be held in the fellowship hall at St. Mark’s.
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 pm on Thursday at the Lundberg Funeral Home. There will also be visitation for one hour prior to the service at church on Friday.
Active pallbearers will be Denny Felton, Doug and Bryson Felton, Jeff Wallof, Chris, Chad and Mitch Felton.
Honorary pallbearers will be Miranda, Shelby, Emma, Lily, Roar, Harley and Fred Felton, Cassy, Dallas, Charles and William Tufty, Anthony Felton, Sarah and Alena Mervyne Wachowski.
Mom’s strong faith and ‘never give up’ attitude guided her through strokes, rehabilitation and years of many serious health issues. Mom was 86 years young.
She was born at home on the family farm in Wanamingo Township, rural Kenyon, to Selma (Nesseth) and Arthur Bonhus on October 16, 1921. She had one brother, Jergen Bonhus.
She attended country school #61 through the 8th grade, only a half mile from her home. From there she attended and graduated from Kenyon High School in 1940 with honors.
Growing up a farmer’s daughter, she was a member of Holden Lutheran Church, sang in the choir, and was involved in Luther League and 4-H.
One of her dreams was to be a teacher. She completed the two year Normal Training in Cannon Falls to become a rural school teacher at Jackson School District #60 for two years and the Underdahl School District #54 for one year.
One of her favorite activities was roller skating at the skating rink above Lee Chevrolet in Cannon Falls. One evening, she asked Arnie Felton to skate with her. The young Randolph farmer captured her heart and three years later, they married. On September 21, 1945, Arnie and Mervyne exchanged marriage vows at Holden Lutheran Church in rural Kenyon and 63 years later, they have truly shared the good times and the bad, the better and the worse, and in sickness and in health. Their vows meant more to each other with each passing year. Best friends, lovers, best buddies, parents, working business partners, traveling pals; everything they did – they did together.
They farmed their entire lives in rural Randolph, on Felton Avenue (coincidentally named after Mom and Dad) until moving to Lake Byllesby in 1976. Besides raising chickens to sell the eggs for grocery money and helping with hogs and cattle, Mom was an incredible farmer’s wife and homemaker. From driving tractors and trucks to running grain dryers and lunches to Dad in the fields, canning, baking, freezing, substitute teaching at Randolph, working part-time at Kraft’s Family Clothing store in Cannon Falls, mending, patching, needlework, raising a family of three children, teaching Sunday School, and tending her garden and beautifully planned flower beds.
In 1966, Mom and Dad took a big risk and were the first to install a center pivot irrigation system in Dakota County, which changed not only their lives to enjoy a successful future, but paved the way for agriculture in this region to flourish with irrigation.
Mom was a lifetime and active member of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Randolph, since 1947. She was president of the Ladies Aid ELCA, member of WELCA and Faith Circle, volunteered, worked and served on many church committees, taught Sunday school and confirmation, leader for Gopher 4H Club, education secretary for the Cannon River Conference working with 40 churches in the Lutheran Church, then ELCA, charter member of Lutheran Brotherhood in St. Mark’s, Luther League leader, started the church library, co-chartered the Randolph Community Blood Drive, supported the Red Wing Shuffle Cancer Walk and received recognition for being a sponsor and a cancer survivor.
Mom and Dad enjoyed traveling in their motor home. They were in every state (except for 7) in the U.S. They went on an Alaskan cruise, Hawaii, Norway to find her family heritage, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Figi, Nova Scotia, El Salvador, and Canadian Providences.
Devoted to her family, she loved her husband, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren; they were her joy in life. She loved music, singing hymns, playing her organ, reading, crocheting, knitting, fishing and sitting by the campfire at Long Lake up north by Hibbing, and living by Lake Byllesby. She was proud of being 100% Norwegian, spoke Norsk, and is a third cousin to Queen Sonja of Norway.
She kept a daily diary for all of nearly 60 years documenting her life and daily events as a farm housewife, put together a ‘Family Recipe’ book for our family and a Grandmother’s Book for each grandchild. Her personal passion in life was her flowers and gardening.
We will miss Mom. Christmas Eve with the lutefisk, lefse and Norwegian table grace. Her genuine sunshine smile and hearty laugh; her happy personality and fun sense of humor; an emotionally and mentally strong and vibrant woman who was totally supportive and extremely proud of her family. She gave everything and asked for nothing in return. We are so very proud to have had our Mother in our lives. She was the greatest role model and mentor and we thank her from the bottom of our hearts for everything.
She is survived by her loving husband, Arnie of almost 63 years (only 21 days until their 63rd wedding anniversary); two sons, Douglas (Nora) Felton of Cannon Falls, Dennis (Sherry) Felton of Dallas Center, IA; one daughter, Dorris (Jeffrey) Wallof of Cannon Falls; seven grandchildren, Chris (Julie) Felton, Chad Felton (friend Lori), Cassy (Travis) Tufty, Miranda and Bryson Felton, Mitch (Shawna) Felton, and Sarah (Matt) Wachowski; eleven great-grandchildren, Shelby, Emma, Lily, Roar, Harley and Fredrick Felton, Dallas, Charles and William Tufty, Anthony Felton, and Alena Mervyne Wachowski; four sisters-in-law, three brothers-in-law; and many nieces, nephews and dear friends.
Her parents and brother preceded her in death.
Funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, September 5 at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Randolph. Interment will follow at the Lakeside Cemetery, near Randolph. Dinner will be held in the fellowship hall at St. Mark’s.
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 pm on Thursday at the Lundberg Funeral Home. There will also be visitation for one hour prior to the service at church on Friday.
Active pallbearers will be Denny Felton, Doug and Bryson Felton, Jeff Wallof, Chris, Chad and Mitch Felton.
Honorary pallbearers will be Miranda, Shelby, Emma, Lily, Roar, Harley and Fred Felton, Cassy, Dallas, Charles and William Tufty, Anthony Felton, Sarah and Alena Mervyne Wachowski.
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