Merlyn O. Valan

A sad hush fell over the Red River Valley as Merlyn Valan breathed his last breath and moved on into the eternal care of his Creator on Wednesday, December 15th, 2010. Merlyn, whom so many had come to know and love came into this world on October 27th 1926 as the first living son of Malker and Anne Valan. They raised him along with his sisters Lillian,Tina, Anne and brothers Grant and Orlen on the Kurtz township farm where he went on to live for 80 years. Merlyn attended school in Rustad, MN and graduated from Comstock High in 1945 where he captained the basketball team. Among his mentors on the home place were his grandpa Jens and Mac Johnson.After serving on Guam in the United States Navy he returned to the farm, attended North Dakota State School of Science and sat in bachelor's row at Hoff Lutheran Church where he served ten years as Council President. In the off season his band of brother's hunted deer, ducks and pheasants, sorted potatoes, went ice fishing and skied at the great mountain resorts of the Rocky Mountains. From spring planting to harvest these bachelors of Kurtz and Holy Cross townships farmed with their fathers and brothers. In 1954 he met and married the love of his life Shirlee Henderson Clausen with whom he shared an adventurous and faithful life for 56 years. With the farm as their base camp they traveled the world with significant stays in Whitefish Montana, Franklin Lake, St. Paul and Moorhead, Minnesota. They raised four children including Kathleene, Matthew, Elizabeth Anne and Cordee Jo. Throughout his life he had the joy, privilege and challenge of farming with his brothers Grant and Orlen along with his son Matt and nephews Craig and Orlen Jr. He took great pride in the fine manner in which Orlen Jr. carried on the family farming tradition. Merlyn was a leader in the formation of the American Crystal Sugar Cooperative and served as Legislative Liaison for the Red River Valley Sugerbeet Growers Association during those challenging years. Merlyn's love of people led him into public service where he served his state and nation as Chief Clerk of the Minnesota Senate, State Chairman of the Minnesota ASCS Committee and member of the National Wheat, Feed Grains and Soybean Advisory Committee. In 1978 he was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives where he served as a state legislator from District 9B for four terms. Following his legislative service he was appointed Assistant Commissioner of Agriculture by Governor Arnie Carlson, Merlyn served in this capacity until his retirement. Although he counted Governors, Senators and Judges among his many friends, he always had time for the Capital custodians and secretaries and valued their friendships equally. He was loved and respected on both sides of the political aisle and known for unequaled constituent service. Merlyn loved life and lived large. He lived gregariously, loved generously and trusted God unswervingly. He rode a Harley Glide before it was cool. He skied at Sun Valley and Aspen when less than 50 people were on the slopes and he served on the first professional ski patrol at the Big Mountain in Whitefish Montana. He taught all of his kids and many friends to snow ski and enjoyed coaching little league baseball. He was an excellent shot and he loved to hunt the woods and lakes of Minnesota as well as the sloughs of North Dakota with his family and many friends. He was an adjunct professor of BS at the Carlson Duck School of North Dakota. He loved good food, fine scotch and Yellow Labs.He dearly loved his 4 children, 13 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren and ardently followed their events and activities. The grand kids will long remember his booming voice calling their names as they competed in athletics, participated in 4-H and performed in concerts. He and Shirlee traveled extensively with their children and grandchildren including several trips to his parents' homeland of Norway. His infectious enthusiasm and love of life modeled for his family and friends the abundant life promised by Jesus. He was a lifelong member of the Hoff-Comstock Lutheran parish where he served in many leadership capacities. Merlyn lived by faith and in the words of Teddy Roosevelt he "knew full well the great devotions and great enthusiasms. He spent his life in a worthy cause". Throughout his life he knew the "triumphs of high achievement and when he failed he at least failed while daring greatly so that his place was never among those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat". He had boundless enthusiasm and he never lost hope. He looked forward to the next place and the promise of seeing his many loved ones, friends and colleagues who rest in the care of God including his beloved daughter Elizabeth, his granddaughter Katie Anne and his son in law Steve Tungseth. He will be missed! Thanks be to God for the life of Meryln Orville Valan. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Hoff Lutheran Church, Rustad, Minnesota.