Marland O'Hern

Marland began his life in North Minneapolis on October 3, 1926.  His beloved mother taught him many lessons about working hard and saving money as his family navigated the years of the Great Depression and World War II.  As a teenager, towards the war end of WWII, Marland joined the US Army, where he was stationed processing soldiers in the Phillipines as they returned to our country.

Back in the United States as a young man, Marland found his way to his 42 year career job as a Teamsters union bakery driver/salesman for Emrich baking company. This was a perfect job for him as it provided multiple opportunities for daily social contact as The Breadman.  It was while delivering his bakery products in the early morning hours to White Castle, that Marland first met Ruth.  When they married May 1, 1948, Marland joined a fun-loving band of eighteen brothers- and sisters-in-law who provided over seven decades of friendship, adventures, and hijinks.

After several temporary living arrangements, Marland and Ruth eventually settled in North Minneapolis in 1960, where they raised their five children in the The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod.  Worshipping First at Redeemer Lutheran in Robbinsdale, then at Immanual Lutheran, and finally in retirement at Zion Lutheran in Alexandria.  Marland was an active volunteer for many years, videotaping the services and preparing the monthly newsletter for delivery.

Providing a good life for his family was Marland’s driving force.  He took pride in having the means to pay his own way, wherever that was, and treating others to a fine meal or a good time.  Marland was adamant in his advice to his children that they should follow in his footsteps: get a good job, work hard, stay with the company, and put money into savings.  In the mid 60’s, Marland was easily talked into buying a summer cabin on Little Darling, closer to some of Ruth’s siblings.

It was in Alexandria, close to Ruth’s family that they made their final home together in the early 80’s.  Shortly after Marland’s official retirement, Ruth realized he still needed to have the gratifying routine of a job.  Marland then went on to work another twelve years part time with other retirees delivering The Echo Press, Alexandria’s local paper.  He also added a several year stint calling Bingo at The Eagle’s Club where Ruth and he were active members.

Following Ruth’s death seventeen years ago, Marland surprised his family by continuing his wife’s love of vegetable gardening, canning tomatoes and dill pickles,  baking chocolate chip cookies and box mix cakes,  and preparing beef pot roast and whole oven roasted turkey meals, including jello in all the different ways Ruth had made it.  He was a generous host, always offering his house guests a Coke and something good to eat.

Unfortunately, last September, Marland was blindsided with a cerebral stroke.  He had a difficult time reconciling that at age almost 93, he was now too debilitated to continue to live independently (and drive).  Once settled into life at Bethany Marland once again found pleasure in the simple things: watering his house plants, watching the birds, weather and the changing seasons through his open resident room window, winning 50 cents at hallway Bingo, Friday Jacuzzi baths finished up warm towels and most importantly pleasantly visiting with anyone he came in contact with.

We gratefully thank the staff at Bethany on the Lake for all the care and concern they showed Marland during his short stay there.

Preceded in death by his parents Morris and Martha (Sommerfeldt), his brothers Eugene (Shirley) and Rodney (Marty) and his sister Elaine, his faithful wife of 54 ½ years, Ruth (Briese), his oldest son, Bruce (Joyce), and his newborn grandson, Stephen Jr.

Survived by his other three sons Steve, Kevin, Dana, and his daughter Lisa (Mike Fischer), his grandchildren Rhonda, Jacquelyn, Tanya, Cory, Jada, and Patrick Jr., his great-grandsons Eric and Benjamin, and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held on Friday, July 17, 2020, 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM at Zion Lutheran Church in Alexandria with the Funeral at 2:30 PM.  Burial will be at Parkers Prairie Cemetery.

Memorials are preferred to Zion Lutheran Church & School.