Wilford Allen Dokken, 79, passed away at his rural Alden, Minnesota home on Aug. 20, 2016.

Wilford was born at home Oct. 6, 1936, to George and Wannie (Elam) Dokken in Kensett, Iowa. He was raised, along with nine brothers and sisters, on the family farm in rural Kensett and was educated in the country school, Brookfield 7. Wilford was baptized and confirmed at Elk Creek Lutheran Church in rural Iowa and served his country in the Army National Guard from 1959 to 1967. In June of 1967, he was united in marriage to Karen Erickson Dokken at the Elk Creek Lutheran Church.

He had varied occupations which included working in the sugar beet plant in Mason City, truck driving, construction, and in the meat packing industry. He was employed by Wilson/Farmstead for 29 years in the Hide Cellar and Smoked Meats departments. During this time, he was a union steward for his local union. In 1977, Wilford took an early retirement from Farmstead and began farming full time on land he and his wife purchased north of Armstrong, Minnesota.

Five children and 13 grandchildren survive him. Wilford’s children are: Tana (Doug) Clark of Garretson, South Dakota; Deb (Jim) Thunstedt of Alden, Minnesota; Jay (Heather) Dokken of Alden, Minnesota; John (Mary) Rosheim of Austin, Minnesota; and Eve (Sam) Pickard of Dell Rapids, South Dakota. Grandchildren include: Kindra, Jayden, and Carson Clark, Lauren, Kayla, and Lindsay Thunstedt, Caleb and Joel Dokken, Emma and Meghan Rosheim, and Miriam, Micah, and Kirtianna Pickard. He is also survived by four brothers: Truman, Donald, Rueben and Melvin; and one sister, Juanita.

Wilford was preceded in death by his parents, three sisters (Mary, Hazel, and Barbara) and three brothers (Sam, James, and Leslie).

Wilford was a member of Concordia Lutheran Church of Pickerel Lake in rural Albert Lea, Minnesota. He later became a charter member of the Harbor of Joy Lutheran Church in Milford, Iowa.

He loved having coffee with his friends at Nancy’s Café in Albert Lea — where he and his “coffee buddies” frequently practiced the art of debate, often offering solutions to the various problems facing the world. He also enjoyed fishing with family and friends in Alexandria which included the frequent sharing of a number of “fish stories.” However his biggest joy was farming the land he was so proud to be a steward of. His grandchildren were the light of his life. Whenever any grandchild needed a sweet treat, they knew where to go.

A visitation is planned for Thursday, Sept. 8, 2016, at Harbor of Joy Lutheran Church in Milford, Iowa from 5 to 7 p.m.

A memorial service is planned at 11 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 9, 2016, at Crane Chapel in Austin, Minnesota,with visitation an hour previous.

Memorials received will be given to Relay for Life, The Care House in Deeside, Jamaica and New Life Foundation in Tanzania.