Marvin Totland

Marvin Gust Totland of Alexandria, MN went home to be with our Lord on Thursday, March 8, 2018 at the age of eighty-seven years.

Marvin was born to Gust and Olive (Engstrand) Totland on September 6, 1930 in Detroit Lakes, MN. He was baptized and confirmed at First Lutheran Church in Detroit Lakes. Marvin attended grade school and graduated from high school in Detroit Lakes.

Marvin enlisted in the United States Army in December 1950. He completed his basic training at Fort Rucker, AL. He served with the 1st Cavalry Division in North Korea during the Korean War. Marvin was critically injured in a missile attack for which he was awarded the Purple Heart. Marvin spent one year in a hospital recovering from his wounds.

Following Marvin’s discharge from the service he returned to Minnesota and married Adeline Macal on September 4, 1954 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Frazee, MN. The couple was blessed with three very special children, Tom, Tresa and Bonnie.

Marvin graduated from NDSSS in 1954 and began working for independent telephone companies. In 1961 he began working in Washington, D.C. for the Rural Electrification Administration which was part of the US Department of Agriculture. He was employed by this agency until his retirement in 1990. During his thirty year career Marvin had the pleasure of setting up many communication programs in the United States including many towns in the upper Midwest, Alaska, the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

Marvin loved the outdoors and loved to fish and hunt. He enjoyed spending time doing wood carvings. Marvin always carried a camera with him and he had a story to tell every niece or nephew that spent time with him. Marvin’s children were very important to him and he loved being with them.

Marvin was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Alexandria and a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3289 in New York Mills.

Marvin was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, and their spouses, Milton & Phyllis Totland and Leonard & Judy Totland; and one sister and her spouse, Dorothy and Bill Haspel.

Marvin is survived by his wife, Adeline Totland of Alexandria; Son, Thomas Totland and wife, Tammy, of Livingston, MT; daughters, Tresa Totland Wendlandt of Austin, TX and Bonnie Hiatt and husband, Lee, of Parker, CO; grandchildren, Brooke Strommer and husband, Matt, of Alexandria, Erin Wendlandt of Aurora, CO, Tony Wendlandt of Alexandria, Tayler Totland of Edmond, OK, Drew Totland of Livingston,  Christie Thompson of Tennessee and Jeff Hiat of Parker, CO; sisters -in-law and brothers-in-law, Marly Menze of Otter Tail, MN, Arlene Macal of Columbia Falls, MT and Ken and  Michelle Macal of Fort Worth, TX; and many nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be held 11:30 AM Tuesday, March 13, 2018 at Zion Lutheran Church in Alexandria. Reverend Geoff Gronewold will officiate. Interment will follow in the St. John Lutheran Cemetery near Otter Tail, MN. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 PM Monday at Zion Lutheran Church and also one hour prior to the service at church.

Arrangements are with the Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria.