Menno W. Fokken, age 86, of Canby, MN, passed away Sunday, January 19, 2025, at the Sanford Canby Medical Center in Canby, MN. Funeral services will be 10:30 am Monday, January 27, 2025, at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Canby, MN with Rev. Levi Bollerud officiating. Burial will be in the Canby City Cemetery, Canby. Visitation will be 3 – 5 pm with a 5 pm Prayer Service on Sunday, January 26th at Houseman Funeral Home, Birk Chapel in Canby, MN, and will resume Monday one hour prior to the service at the church. Houseman Funeral Home, Birk Chapel in Canby is entrusted with the arrangements.

Menno Walter Fokken was born May 6, 1938, to Bernhard and Fanny (Knoblauch) Fokken in Canby, Minnesota. He was baptized and confirmed into the Lutheran faith at Zacchaeus Lutheran Church. He gained a new mother and stepbrother when his father remarried Emma (Roenspiess) Zell in 1945.  Menno was the second oldest of the Fokken boys. They learned early how to work hard on the farm, but they still snuck in fun, like a perpetual Monopoly game set up in the brooder house where they’d play in between chores. Their games would last weeks, and they often had to make their own money when the players’ wealth exceeded the bank that came with the game.  At a fateful dance in Madison, MN, Menno met the love of his life, Lucille (Hillman). They were married on May 10, 1959, at St. John’s Lutheran church in Marietta, MN. They built a life together and welcomed four kids over the next 8 years, Gary, Lyle, Gail and Mark. They continued to grow the farm and raise their family. Menno valued education and took pride in making sure his kids had that opportunity. In 1981, they were surprised to welcome Ryan to the family and surprised again two years later when Sara arrived. Despite being surprises, Menno liked to say he “couldn’t stand the thought of an empty nest, so we had two more.” Menno continued farming full-time until 2005 when he turned the farm over to his oldest son, Gary, and moved into Canby. He still enjoyed farming some land and going out to the farm to help whenever he could. In retirement, Menno and Lucille enjoyed traveling around the world.  As a farmer, Menno knew the value of the land because “they can’t make any more of it.” He was a land steward by serving on the Soil and Water Conservation Board in Yellow Medicine County for more than 30 years. He recorded and reported rainfall totals to the State of Minnesota and the conservation district faithfully for over 40 years (longer than any recorder in state history). He served on the National Public Grazing Lands committee, and in retirement, tended the flowers, lawns and landscaping at Our Saviour’s Lutheran church.  He was a faithful servant of God’s church, being a life-long usher and serving on many boards, building and call committees.  He valued community service saying, “invest in yourself by investing in your community.” He served on the Yellow Medicine County Fair Board for over 30 years and on the Board at the National Bank of Canby, a volunteer 4-H leader, and volunteered for countless events.  Menno especially treasured his time with family whether it was playing a game of Uno or dominoes, sharing a little lunch, or just visiting.

Menno is survived by his wife, Lucille; children, Gary (Vivian) of Gary, SD, Lyle (Guy Allen) of Onalaska, WI, Mark of Marshall, MN, Ryan of Columbia Heights, MN, Sara (Corey) Stoks of Gary, SD; 13 grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren, brothers Bernhard (Heidi) Fokken of Plymouth, MN, Erich (Celina) Fokken of Canby, MN, Theodore (Bonnie) Fokken of St. Louis, Park, MN; and sister-in-law, Judy Fokken of Canby, MN.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Bernhard and Fanny (Knoblauch), stepmother Emma (Roenspiess) Zell; step-brother Gert Zell; brother Paul Fokken; and daughter, Gail Fokken.