Marvin G. Urke

Marvin Gilman Urke, age 94, of Starbuck died Thursday, August 24, 2023, at Minnewaska Lutheran Home in Starbuck, Minnesota. Visitation will be held from 10:00 am to 11:00 am, followed by a memorial service at 11:00 a.m. Friday, September 15, 2023, at Zniewski Funeral Home in Benson.

Marvin Gilman Urke was born September 24, 1928, on his parents’ farm in Langhei Township. When his dad retired, Marvin bought the farm and lived there until he suffered his strokes and moved into Holly Ridge in Starbuck. He later became a resident of the Minnewaska Lutheran Home where he resided until his death on August 24, 2023, at the age of 94.

Marvin was baptized by Rev. K. R. Palmer and confirmed at West Zion Lutheran Church of rural Hancock. He graduated from 8th grade at Wayside District 51 country school. Marvin was very proud of his Norwegian heritage and would never speak English to anyone who he knew could speak Norwegian.

As a young man, Marvin worked as a hired man on a farm by Lake Hazel. He eventually took over farming with his dad and helped with the milking. Marvin never married but he greatly enjoyed spending time with his nieces and nephews.

Marvin enjoyed working on big puzzles, playing canasta cards with his friends, and watching Western movies.  He was a terrific gardener and grew sweet corn, muskmelon, and watermelon. He was an excellent cook and made delicious potato Klub, homemade biscuits, and helped his mother fry lefse. He hunted deer every year and butchered them himself.

At the nursing home Marvin loved it when puppies or lambs were brought in for residents to see. He missed his German Shepherd dog Princess on the farm.

Marvin is survived by his brother Conrad Urke of Alexandria, his sister Inga Mae Urke of Starbuck, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Knut and Clara Urke, his brothers Ingolf Urke, and Alfred Urke, his sister and brother-in-law Dena and Leonard Hofstad, his niece DeAnn Grote, sister-in-law Gretchen Urke, and his nephew Mark Owen Urke in infancy.