After his honorable discharge, he came back to Clearbrook and resumed farming. One Saturday night he attended a hall dance in Shevlin with some friends, and met his future wife Shirley Bjerke. Harlan and Shirley were married February 17th 1962. To this union three children were born James, Kelly, and Judy. Harlan and Shirley had a special relationship working side by side on the farm for 40 + years raising cattle specifically registered Simmental cattle; they were some of the first people to raise them in this area. Besides farming, Harlan had a deep love for nature and the outdoors that he shared with his kids and grandkids. He loved trapping, hunting and fishing. The love for this was evident in the building of a brand new hunting cabin this year in order for family members to carry on his passion for the outdoors, being so proud to tell people about the cabin. Harlan also in later years began guiding bear hunts with his grandson Devin making many friends from this venture. Harlan and Shirley sold the farm to their son James in 1994 building their retirement home on 80 acres just south of the family farm.
In retirement, he and Shirley traveled the country going to Florida to visit friends multiple times as well as Tennessee with Jim, Joyce, Carol & Wayne. Besides Travel in the United States, he and Shirley made two trips to Norway the final one accompanied by Devin and Laura. In his later years he wanted to publish a sort of autobiography / how to book that, he called 60 years of Country living in Northern Minnesota. He and Shirley traveled to many craft shows selling books. Family and Friends were very important to Harlan, always offering to lend and hand or a piece of advice. He was satisfied with the simple things in life often joking that he could have all the money in the world and hed be content with a cup of coffee and some sort of cookie or something at the lumber yard with friends.
He was a member of Good Shepherd church serving from some time on the council and a member of the Clearbrook American Legion.
Harlan Sidney Aakre passed away January 16, 2018 surrounded by family after a long and courageous battle with cancer.
He is survived by his wife Shirley of Clearbrook, Son- James(Doreen) Aakre Clearbrook. Daughter Judy(Daryl) Bjerke Bemidji MN Daughter in Law Julie Aakre Wahpeton, ND. Grandchildren Devin Aakre, Katelyn ( Reed) Sander, Laura Aakre, Trevor Bjerke, Alesa Bjerke, Logan Bjerke, Matthew Aakre, Nathan Aakre, Nicholas Aakre. Great Grandchildren Kylee, Blake, Mia, Bentley, Brodie, Destiny, Elianah, and Karleigh. Sister- Lois Molden Clearbrook, Brother Charles (Delores) Aakre Clearbrook. Along with numerous brother and sister in laws , cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, son Kelly Aakre, and brother in law Don Molden. Blessed be his memory.
After his honorable discharge, he came back to Clearbrook and resumed farming. One Saturday night he attended a hall dance in Shevlin with some friends, and met his future wife Shirley Bjerke. Harlan and Shirley were married February 17th 1962. To this union three children were born James, Kelly, and Judy. Harlan and Shirley had a special relationship working side by side on the farm for 40 + years raising cattle specifically registered Simmental cattle; they were some of the first people to raise them in this area. Besides farming, Harlan had a deep love for nature and the outdoors that he shared with his kids and grandkids. He loved trapping, hunting and fishing. The love for this was evident in the building of a brand new hunting cabin this year in order for family members to carry on his passion for the outdoors, being so proud to tell people about the cabin. Harlan also in later years began guiding bear hunts with his grandson Devin making many friends from this venture. Harlan and Shirley sold the farm to their son James in 1994 building their retirement home on 80 acres just south of the family farm.
In retirement, he and Shirley traveled the country going to Florida to visit friends multiple times as well as Tennessee with Jim, Joyce, Carol & Wayne. Besides Travel in the United States, he and Shirley made two trips to Norway the final one accompanied by Devin and Laura. In his later years he wanted to publish a sort of autobiography / how to book that, he called 60 years of Country living in Northern Minnesota. He and Shirley traveled to many craft shows selling books. Family and Friends were very important to Harlan, always offering to lend and hand or a piece of advice. He was satisfied with the simple things in life often joking that he could have all the money in the world and hed be content with a cup of coffee and some sort of cookie or something at the lumber yard with friends.
He was a member of Good Shepherd church serving from some time on the council and a member of the Clearbrook American Legion.
Harlan Sidney Aakre passed away January 16, 2018 surrounded by family after a long and courageous battle with cancer.
He is survived by his wife Shirley of Clearbrook, Son- James(Doreen) Aakre Clearbrook. Daughter Judy(Daryl) Bjerke Bemidji MN Daughter in Law Julie Aakre Wahpeton, ND. Grandchildren Devin Aakre, Katelyn ( Reed) Sander, Laura Aakre, Trevor Bjerke, Alesa Bjerke, Logan Bjerke, Matthew Aakre, Nathan Aakre, Nicholas Aakre. Great Grandchildren Kylee, Blake, Mia, Bentley, Brodie, Destiny, Elianah, and Karleigh. Sister- Lois Molden Clearbrook, Brother Charles (Delores) Aakre Clearbrook. Along with numerous brother and sister in laws , cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, son Kelly Aakre, and brother in law Don Molden. Blessed be his memory.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement