1933
Marlin
2013
Marlin Radtke
May 22, 1933 — June 18, 2013
Marlin "Mike" Radtke, 80, of Park Rapids, MN, died Tuesday, June 18, 2013, at Casa de la Luz Hospice in Tucson, AZ.
Mike was born May 22, 1933, to Sophie (Bertram) and Ben Radtke, in Faribault, MN. He attended elementary and high school in Faribault. He was an outstanding athlete in football, basketball, and tennis. He attended South Dakota State University as a pharmacy student, graduating in 1955. While at SDSU he was elected to the Rho Chi Pharmaceutical Honor Society. He was also chosen to be a member of Blue Key Honor Society and Scabbard and Blade. He was an outstanding player on the championship SDSU football team. He also won tennis championships. After graduation, Mike was hired by Osco Drug Co. He began his career at St. Paul, MN, Osco Drug.
In August of 1955, he married his college sweetheart, Jean Harshfield, a nursing graduate from SDSU. In December 1956, he entered the US Army and served for two years as 1st Lt. In 1958 he returned to Osco Drug at Mason City, IA, as a pharmacist, then to Boone, IA, as 1st assistant. In 1960 he transferred to Fargo, ND. During those years, Mike and Jean had five children, Michele, Michael, Karen, Kirk, and Gary.
In 1965, he was transferred to Huron, SD, as manager of Osco Drug. Then in 1967 he moved back to Fargo as manager. In 1980 he and Jean decided to move to Grand Junction, CO. He was manager there for four years. Then they transferred to Billings, MT, for 10 years as manager. During that time Osco became Buttrey Food and Drug. Both Mike and Jean enjoyed their years in Colorado and Montana, meeting many new friends and enjoyed skiing and hunting elk in Montana.
After retirement they moved to Park Rapids, MN, on Potato Lake to be near family and Fargo friends. Mike maintained connection with his many friends and fellow Osco employees during his transfers. They provided him with much warmth and comfort during his recent years.
Mike was a member of the Lions Club and Calvary Lutheran Church in Park Rapids. He will be missed!
He is survived by his wife, Jean; children, Michele (Rick) Pender, Moorhead, MN, Michael Radtke, Minneapolis, MN, Karen (Tim) Ewers, Chaska, MN, Kirk Radtke, Tucson, and Gary Radtke, Tucson; grandchildren, Jeremy Nordick, Shannon (Matt) Lauwers, Jamie Nordick, Whitney Jones, Elise Ewers, and Troy Ewers; great-granddaughter, Madison Lauwers.
He was preceded in death by his parents and stepfather, Kenneth Johnson.
Memorials may be directed to SDSU Alumni Association, PO Box 525, Brookings, SD 57007, or Calvary Lutheran Church, Park Rapids, MN.
A Gathering of Friends will be Friday, June 28, 2013, from 1:00 PM until 3:00 PM in Korsmo Funeral Chapel, Moorhead, MN.
Interment: Riverside Cemetery, Moorhead, MN
(Korsmo Funeral Service, Moorhead, MN)
Mike was born May 22, 1933, to Sophie (Bertram) and Ben Radtke, in Faribault, MN. He attended elementary and high school in Faribault. He was an outstanding athlete in football, basketball, and tennis. He attended South Dakota State University as a pharmacy student, graduating in 1955. While at SDSU he was elected to the Rho Chi Pharmaceutical Honor Society. He was also chosen to be a member of Blue Key Honor Society and Scabbard and Blade. He was an outstanding player on the championship SDSU football team. He also won tennis championships. After graduation, Mike was hired by Osco Drug Co. He began his career at St. Paul, MN, Osco Drug.
In August of 1955, he married his college sweetheart, Jean Harshfield, a nursing graduate from SDSU. In December 1956, he entered the US Army and served for two years as 1st Lt. In 1958 he returned to Osco Drug at Mason City, IA, as a pharmacist, then to Boone, IA, as 1st assistant. In 1960 he transferred to Fargo, ND. During those years, Mike and Jean had five children, Michele, Michael, Karen, Kirk, and Gary.
In 1965, he was transferred to Huron, SD, as manager of Osco Drug. Then in 1967 he moved back to Fargo as manager. In 1980 he and Jean decided to move to Grand Junction, CO. He was manager there for four years. Then they transferred to Billings, MT, for 10 years as manager. During that time Osco became Buttrey Food and Drug. Both Mike and Jean enjoyed their years in Colorado and Montana, meeting many new friends and enjoyed skiing and hunting elk in Montana.
After retirement they moved to Park Rapids, MN, on Potato Lake to be near family and Fargo friends. Mike maintained connection with his many friends and fellow Osco employees during his transfers. They provided him with much warmth and comfort during his recent years.
Mike was a member of the Lions Club and Calvary Lutheran Church in Park Rapids. He will be missed!
He is survived by his wife, Jean; children, Michele (Rick) Pender, Moorhead, MN, Michael Radtke, Minneapolis, MN, Karen (Tim) Ewers, Chaska, MN, Kirk Radtke, Tucson, and Gary Radtke, Tucson; grandchildren, Jeremy Nordick, Shannon (Matt) Lauwers, Jamie Nordick, Whitney Jones, Elise Ewers, and Troy Ewers; great-granddaughter, Madison Lauwers.
He was preceded in death by his parents and stepfather, Kenneth Johnson.
Memorials may be directed to SDSU Alumni Association, PO Box 525, Brookings, SD 57007, or Calvary Lutheran Church, Park Rapids, MN.
A Gathering of Friends will be Friday, June 28, 2013, from 1:00 PM until 3:00 PM in Korsmo Funeral Chapel, Moorhead, MN.
Interment: Riverside Cemetery, Moorhead, MN
(Korsmo Funeral Service, Moorhead, MN)
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Marlin Radtke, please visit our flower store.
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