Memorial services for Merlin Clifford Espe of Albert Lea, will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, May 12, 2011 at the Bonnerup Funeral Service Chapel.

Pastors Richard Bondtrager and Josh Kruger will officiate. Friends may greet the family one hour prior to the service. Interment will be in the Oakland-Hillcrest Cemetery, rural Oakland, Minn. Military honors will be accorded by the Albert Lea Area Veterans Groups. Merlin died Saturday evening, May 7, 2011, at St Marys Hospital in Rochester. He was 80 years of age.

Merlin was born March 20, 1931 in Austin, the son of Eric and Olga (Larsen) Espe. He attended country school near Austin. He served his country in the Army during the Korean War. On Feb. 12, 1977, he was united in marriage to Beverly Brown in Byron, Minn. Merlin was a Freeborn County resident for most of his life and had been employed for many years at the Wilson Co. He also worked for the City of Albert Lea at the Civic Theater. Merlin loved carpentry and was self employed for many years. Merlin had a great love for his family and his girls were everything to him. He was always very welcoming and enjoyed being a part of everyone’s family. He loved to spend time with his dogs, Foxy and Buddy.

Merlin is survived by his daughter, Kim Raben of Stewartville, Minn., granddaughter, Amy Toot of Stewartville; brother Marvin (Trena) Espe of Albert Lea; cousin, Mervin Nasby of Mesa, Ariz., and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Beverly in 2009 and sisters, Velma Houchin, Marion McCollough, Helen Dean and Marlys Tostenson. He will be sadly missed by his loving family and many friends.