Gordon "Gordy" Bakken

Gordon “Gordy” P. Bakken 83, of Fergus Falls, Minnesota passed away peacefully on August 10th, 2015, surrounded by his family. He was a loving man of integrity, courage, compassion and vision. He enjoyed basketball, racquetball, art and business, but his greatest love was his family, especially the grandkids. His favorite places were Otter Tail Lake and Hawaii.

Gordon was born on January 19th, 1932 in Fergus Falls to Paulus and Anna (Lee) Bakken. Gordy made the varsity basketball team in eighth grade and graduated from Fergus Falls High School in 1951. After graduating, he married his high school sweetheart, Joan Gust, on July 25, 1953.

A veteran of the Korean War, he served as a Tank Commander for the 761st Tank Battalion in Fort Knox, Kentucky. He used his discharge money from the Army to purchase lake lots on Otter Tail Lake, starting his career in property development.

In 1965, he established Bakken Realty, which was followed by Bakken Construction Company. He was self-employed his entire career. Gordy went on to develop commercial properties throughout the Midwest, consisting of apartments, office buildings, retail stores and industrial warehouses. In his hometown of Fergus Falls, he developed apartment buildings, redeveloped downtown main street buildings and donated buildings to non-profit organizations.

In addition to property development, he was a director of the Fergus Falls Industrial Park, a member of the American Institute of Real Estate Appraisers, a licensed real estate broker and a board member for various charitable organizations. Gordy was a director and member of the Executive Committee and Finance Committee of Western State Life Insurance Company in Fargo, North Dakota. He was heavily involved with Alliance Life of Wichita, Kansas. He served for 15 years on the Board of Governors for Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he was given the Arnold T. Wicklund Award for his service.

Preceding him in death were his parents, Anna and Paulus Bakken, and sister Patricia Revilla.
Survived by his loving wife, Joan of Fergus Falls; children, Kim (Lee Parr) Bakken-Parr and Jody (John) Potts all of Vadnais Heights, Pamela Bakken of Redmond, Washington and Paul(Robyn) Bakken of Plymouth; grandchildren, Lauren (Matt)Frazier, Landon Sach, Sydney, Rachel and Luke Bakken and Nathan and Taylor Potts; and a brother, Norman Bakken of Bloomington.

Memorials are preferred to First Baptist Church Foundation, YoungLife of Otter Tail County or PioneerCare.
Visitation: One hour prior to the service at the church.
Service: 1:00 p.m. Monday, August 17, 2015 at Crossroads, Fergus Falls.
Clergy: Reverend Ned Eerdmans
Military Participation:Fergus Falls V.F.W. Post 612 and American Legion Post 30
Burial: Knollwood Memorial Gardens, Fergus Falls, MN
Arrangements provided by Olson Funeral Home, Fergus Falls, MN
Condolences may be sent online at www.olsonfuneralhome.com