Lynn Alan Ottin Balken

Lynn Alan Ottin Balken, 75, a resident of Fergus Falls, died, Thursday, February 11, 2016, at PioneerCare.

He was born August 11, 1940, in Fergus Falls, the son of Roy and Ione (Lein) Balken. He attended school in Rothsay, graduating in 1958. After high school he attended Moorhead State University and graduated with a teaching degree and a major in English.

Lynn married Sharon Rolin on October 3, 1958 at Hamar Church in Rothsay. The couple had four children, Kristi, Lauri, Brian and Brent. He started his teaching career in Greenbush, MN, where he taught English, debate and theater. In the fall of 1965, he began teaching at Fergus Falls High School. There he taught English, debate, speech, theater, as well as directed one act plays and coached baseball. He also broadcasted numerous sporting events.

On July 20, 1990 he married Susan Schultz at Hamar Church in Rothsay.

He was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls. He was an avid reader and enjoyed reading westerns. He collected many things, especially steins, and loved to search for treasures at flea markets and auctions. He also enjoyed deer hunting, playing guitar, doing crosswords and arguing with family members over the crossword puzzles, following sports, especially the Vikings and Twins and playing fast pitch softball. He thoroughly loved spending time with his family and will be remembered for his humor and wit, his love for teaching, his strong faith and for teaching his kids about sports.

Preceding him in death were his parents; wife, Sharon; brother and sister-in-law, Eugene and Cheri Balken.

Survivors include his wife, Susan of Fergus Falls; children, Kristi (Kerry) Larson of Hudson, WI, Lauri (Steve) Woodrich of Rockford, MN, Brian Balken of Fargo, ND, Brent Balken of Fargo, ND, Christopher (Sara) Schultz of Fargo, ND; eight grandchildren, Reece, Chelsea, Haley, Alex, Sadie, Andrew, Isaac and Sophie.

Memorials are preferred to the PioneerCare Foundation or Lakeland Hospice.

Visitation: 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, February 15, 2016, with a public prayer service at 6:30 p.m. at the funeral home. Visitation will resume one hour prior to the service at the church.
Service: 11 a.m., Tuesday, February 16, 2016, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls.
Clergy: Reverend Tom Peterson and Reverend Jake Anderson
Burial: Hamar Cemetery, Rothsay, MN
Arrangements provided by Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls, MN.