Gerald Leroy Odden, the so of Alfred and Deloris (Roeder) Odden was born July 30, 1945 in Graceville, MN. He was baptized at Eidskog Lutheran Church in 1945 and confirmed at the Lutheran Church in Chokio, MN. He grew up on Odden family farm out of Clinton, MN. He attended and graduated from Chokio High School in 1963.
Gerald enlisted in the Army National Guard July 1963 and was honorably discharged May 12, 1967. He returned to rural Graceville, MN and farmed for fourteen years. He then moved to Montana and joined the Logging Corporation cutting down trees and fighting wild fires for three years. He went to Garrison, Mt. and worked for Cominco Mine, mining phosphates until his injury and returned to Nisswa, MN. He became a handy man doing staining and painting.
Gerald enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping. He loved hunting and fishing with Jerry and Shawn and spending great times together. He loved being with friends joking around, telling Ole, Lena and little Johnny jokes. He loved his family and while in Montana in 1990, worked very hard getting his daughter Bernadette in to the “Miss Montana Pre Teen” contest and was successful, she came in 5th. What a happy day for them all. He will be missed by “Red” his beloved kitty.
He is survived by his sons, Gerald Jr. (Wendy) Odden of Eagle River, Alaska, Shawn (Sally) Odden of Deer Lodge, Montana; daughter, Bernadette Odden of Milbank, South Dakota; 6 grandchildren, Jon Cope, Kirsten Odden, Mitchel Odden, Marshal Odden, Holly Collins, Veronica Odden; 3 brothers, Alfred Odden Jr. of Wahpeton, North Dakota, Joseph (Naomi) Odden of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Ervin (Barbara) Odden of Wadena, Minnesota; 5 sisters, Rosie (Carl) Doughtery of North Field, Minnesota, Jeannie (Charles) Damerow of Tucson, Arizona, Linda Odden Lorentz of Wadena, Minnesota, DeLois Irwin of Ottertail, Minnesota, Mary Lou Berning of Wahpeton, North Dakota; several nieces and nephews. He will also be remembered by his special friend Diane Joel and all of his friends at Lakeside Apartments.
He is preceded in death by his parents, two brothers Richard and Charles Odden; one sister Jeanette Odden.