Karl Johannes Valentin

September 29, 1929 - November 14, 2015

Karl Valentin, 86, of Franklin died Saturday, November 14, 2015 at Sunwood Good Samaritan Care Center in Redwood Falls. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, November 19, 2015 from St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Franklin. Burial, with military honors, will follow at Morton City Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the church on Thursday from 9:30 until 10:30 a.m. Arrangements are with Nelson-Hillestad Funeral Service of Redwood Falls. E-mail condolences may be sent via www.nelson-hillestad.com. Karl Johannes Valentin, the son of Willie and Helene (Lerch) Valentin, was born September 29, 1929 in Morgan. He grew up in the Morgan and Franklin area and graduated from Franklin High School. Karl was inducted into the United States Army in October 1951 and served with the Military Police during the Korean war. The MPs were responsible for keeping the supply routes open, monitoring the exchange of prisoners and patrolling the demilitarized zone. Following his honorable discharge in October 1953, Karl returned to farm in rural Franklin. On February 14, 1981, Karl married Elsie (Zeman) Johnson and they made their home on the Valentin farm. He belonged to St. Luke’s Lutheran Church where he served on the church board. Karl was a member of the Fairfax VFW and American Legion posts and also served on the township board. Karl is survived by his step-daughter Sharon (John) Anderson of Duluth; step-son Jim (Linda) White of Northfield; five step-grandchildren; and several step-great-grandchildren. Also surviving are his siblings Martha Keil of Redwood Falls, Bill (Lela) Valentin of Burnsville, Walter (Doris) Valentin of Fairfax, Arnie (Arlene) Valentin of Park Rapids, Bruno (Loretta) Valentin of Mandan, North Dakota, Jim (JoAnn) Valentin of Marshall, Mary Ann (Bill) Ruhland of Battle Lake, Bob (Pam) Valentin of Franklin, John Valentin of Lamberton, and Margaret (Merlin) Andersen of Normal, Illinois; sister-in-law Evelyn Gewerth of Morton; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife Elsie on October 1, 2015, one brother and one sister. Blessed be his memory.