Marvin H. Mitchell

Mr. Marvin H. Mitchell, age 80 of Clark died on Tuesday night, May 2, 2006 in a Lake Norden Care Center after a long illness. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 6,2006 at 10:30 AM in the St. Michael's Catholic Church at Clark with Fr. Bill Hamak officiating. Burial with Military Honors by the American Legion Baker Post #13 of Raymond will follow in the St. James (Collins) Cemetery at Willow Lake. Visitation will be held on Friday from 5-7 PM with a public prayer srvice beginning at 6pm all in the Furness Funeral Home Chapel. Music will be presented by Eileen Heilman as organist and Diane Varilek as song leader. Casketbearers will be Keith and Chris Kruthoff, Roger Mitchell, Richard Eggleston and Jerry and John Olson. He was born on May 24, 1926 in Fort Wayne, Indiana, the son of Raymond and Lula May (Brooks) Mitchell. He was schooled in the Fort Wayne area. Following his school he enlisted in the Navy Reserve and then went active duty in January of 1945. He served in the US Navy until July of 1946 at the rank of Motor Machinists Mate, Third Class, working on diesel engines. During his stint in the Navy he met his future wife, Helen Marguerite Jencks, and was married on November 19, 1945. He was transferred during his time of service to Bremerton, WA. The couple lived in that area and in Oregon until 1950 when they moved to Bancroft, SD. In 1964 the family moved to Clark and purchased the Independent Lumber Company, later calling it M & H Lumber. After closing the business, he worked for Gray Construction of Watertown for about 10 years. Even before his retirement, he and his wife enjoyed countless hours of fishing, hunting and camping, spending much of their time outdoors. Mrs. Mitchell died on July 18, 2004. They had both become residents of the Lake Norden Care Center prior to her death and he has continued living there. He was a member of St. Michaels Catholic Church at Clark and a lifetime member of the American Legion Baker Post #13 of Raymond. Survivors include his son Daniel Mitchell and wife Ramona of Sturgis and a daughter Nancy Bethke and husband Nick of Wakefield, Nebraska; a sister Barbara Marsh of Blackshear, GA and 7 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Preceding him in death was his wife, parents, a son Ted Mitchell in 1973, grandson, Eugene Mitchell, great-grandson, Michael A. Flaaen and a brother Raymond Mitchell. Services are announced by the Furness Funeral Home at Clark where you can email condolences at www.furnessfuneralhome.com.