Arnold M. Bratland

Arnold M. Bratland, 87, of Bode, passed away January 25, 2017 at the Humboldt County Memorial Hospital. Funeral Services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, January 28th at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Bode with the Rev. James Borlaug officiating. Burial will be in St. Olaf Cemetery, Bode, with full military rites by the Bode American Legion. Visitation is from 5-8 p.m. Friday at the church. The Mason-Lindhart Funeral Home is assisting the family.
Arnold M. Bratland, the son of Carl “Albert” and Anna (Gravland) Bratland, was born August 27, 1929 on a farm north of Ottosen and baptized at St. Olaf Lutheran Church on October 27, 1929. When Arnold was seven years old, the family moved into Bode and he attended Bode Consolidated School. At the age of 16, Arnold went to work on the railroad before going into the tiling business with his brother. On September 22, 1951, he was united in marriage to Barbara Jean Long at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Ottosen. Three weeks after their wedding, Arnold was inducted into the United States Army and received his basic training at Indian Town Gap, Pennsylvania. He was then stationed in Austria until his honorable discharge in September of 1953. He returned home and the couple made their home in Bode where they started their family. He continued his tiling work until going to work for Agrico for 18 years. He then worked at Snap On Tools until Joining Frit Industries where he specialized in micronutrients. He rose to the position of plant manager and served until his retirement in 1994.
Arnold was a member of St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Bode where he served on the church council and worked many years at the Lutefisk Dinner, and was a member of the Bode American Legion. In his retirement, he enjoyed mowing the lawn and blowing snow and loved to follow his grandchildren’s activities. He especially enjoyed the frequent family camping trips and the 20 years they spent at their cabin on Lost Island.
The Bratland family encourages memorials, which will be made to causes important to Arnold.
Arnold is survived by his wife of 65 years, Barbara Jean Bratland of Bode; his children, Kathy Kellner of Des Moines, Kenny (Jana) Bratland of Dakota City, Bruce (Jan) Bratland of Livermore, Bev (Keith) Zinnel of Humboldt, and Cindy (Jerry) DeVlaeminck of Spencer; grandchildren, Ken (Laura) Bratland, Becky (David) Kellner-Ratzlaff, Betsy (Nick) Kellner-Nelson, Kevin (Lindsi) Bratland, Jered (Miranda) Bratland, Barb Kellner, Karl (Mary) Bratland, Nikki (Joel) Babcock, Arnie (Nikki) Zinnel, Melissa (Tyler) Horkey, Andy (Megan) Zinnel, Alex Zinnel, Madison DeVlaeminck, Cori DeVlaeminck, Cole DeVlaeminck, and Morgan Nelson (Honorary Grandchild); great-grandchildren, Bryan, Brayden, Emily, Connor, Brody, Hayden, Tucker, Dylan, Graham, Drew, Jackson, Collin, Ethan, Breckin, Chase, Brooks, Eli, Emersyn, Jasmyn, Mercedes, Jacob, Kyzer, Lincoln, Mea, Elynn, and a great granddaughter on the way; sister, Laila (Arlis) Kinseth of Bode; and sister-in-law, Marilyn (Don) Lange of Harlan. He was preceded in death by his parents; granddaughter, Taylor Jean DeVlaeminck; brothers, Ernest Bratland, Leo Tofteberg, Glen Tofteberg, and Melvin Bratland; infant brother, Arthur Bratland; and sister, Gladys Kading.