Earl M. Behrens

Earl Marvin Behrens, 89, of Moorhead, MN, passed away on Saturday, February 6, 2016, at Eventide on 8th, Moorhead. Earl was born on March 19, 1926, on the Behrens family farm place near Johnson, MN, to John and Sophia Fuhrman Behrens. He was baptized on April 18, 1926, at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Johnson and was confirmed on July 27, 1941, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Dumont, MN. Earl attended District #59 Grade School in Traverse County through eighth grade.

Earl was doing farm work for Lester Sheldon near Mapleton, ND, when he was asked to help out with the Sheldon Ranch in Glasgow, MT. His transportation to the west was provided by the maiden run of the Empire Builder Passenger Train. Earl returned to farm Behrens land and to start his own small empire in 1948.

On November 7, 1952, Earl was united in marriage to Dora Gudahl. Together they raised four children; Orin, Diane, Joan and Linda.

Summertime vacations with the family became a tradition after the kids were born. The Rose Bowl Parade in 1962, the Montreal World’s Fair in 1967 and Washington D.C. in 1969 were special highlights. A trip to Alaska in their 1979 F-150 was a lifetime goal for Earl and Dora in 1987.
Earl and Dora spent winters in Arizona from 1980 to 1994; Earl having retired from farming in 1984. The move from rural Dumont to Moorhead took place in 1992. Earl was a member of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Fargo.

Left with his loving memory is his wife, Dora of Moorhead; son, Orin Behrens of Bottineau, ND; daughters, Diane Reese of West Fargo, Joan Behrens of Fargo, Linda Douglas Bakkene of Worthington, MN; step-grandchildren, Jessica Cory Docken of Minneapolis, Jake Angie Reese of Horace, ND, Josh Tiffany Reese of Kindred, ND, Jesse Reese of Fargo; step-great grandchildren, Emma and Abby Docken, Taylor and Ryder Reese, and Lacsey Reese; brothers, Leroy Pearl Behrens of Wheaton, MN, Floyd Jeri Behrens of Dumont; sisters, Lois Don Scheelk of Burnsville, MN, Irene Behrens of Minneapolis, MN; and sisters-in-law, Virginia Behrens of Milford, IA, Lenora Behrens of Wheaton, and Marilyn Behrens of Graceville, MN.

Earl was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Helen Neal Fritz; brothers, Raymond Behrens, Ervin Colene Behrens, Vernon Behrens, Melvin Behrens; and son-in-law, Dave Reese.

The family would like to give a special thank you to the staff at Eventide on 8th and Hospice of the Red River Valley for the exceptional care given to Earl.

Visitation: Thursday, February 11, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m., with prayer service at 7 p.m., in Wright Funeral Home, Moorhead.

Funeral: Friday, February 12, at 11:00 a.m., in Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, Fargo.

Interment: Moorhead Memorial Gardens