Vernon Flatau, age 85, of Mahnomen, MN died Sunday, November 23, 2008 at MeritCare hospital in Fargo, ND.
Vernon Beckman Flatau was born to Albert and Elsie (Beckman) Flatau on March 15, 1923.
He grew up on a farm near Perham, Minnesota. He graduated from Perham High School in 1942. He attended the U of M for a short time before enlisting in 1943. He served in the Navy Air Corp until 1946. In 1947, he bought the Theodore Flatau farm from his dad. On November 16, 1948, Vern married Lorraine Carow from Edgeley, ND. They farmed full time for 15 years, then in 1962, they moved to Mahnomen, where he worked as Director at the ASCS office until his retirement in 1983. He continued to enjoy his farm part time through farm programs, raising game birds, and planting trees and food plots.
Vernon has been an active member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church for 46 years, serving in various positions on the church council. Vernon was always of service to the community. He was an active member of the American Legion for over 50 years. He drove patients to area clinics for 20 years with the Mahube Volunteer Driver Program. As a charter member of the Mahnomen Lions Club, he especially loved working at pancake suppers, selling Christmas trees, and organizing roadside clean-up. Over the years he was recognized for his farming and conservation efforts as King Agassiz of Ottertail County, Soil Conservation Farmer of East Ottertail County, and as a couple they were Mahnomen County Farmer and Homemaker of the Year.
He loved the farm. He shared this with his children and grandchildren, which included building bluebird houses, walking in the woods, exploring beaver lodges, cutting Christmas trees, and transplanting ash and spruce to enjoy in our backyards. There were the regular tree plantings with furrow digging, picnic lunches, and a thousand trees. His hobbies included fishing, hunting, travel, playing cards and golf. He commented, "the golf cuts into my summer fishing, but I catch up with winter fishing".
Vernon is survived by his wife of 60 years, Lorraine, Mahnomen; three daughters, Kathlyn (Ken) Steinmetz, Bagley, MN; Nancy (Mike) Flicek, Hagerstown, MD; Terry (Darvin) Schoenborn, Mahnomen; two sons, Kevin (Kathy) Flatau, Eagan, MN; Rick Flatau, Duluth, MN; eight grandchildren: Ami, Kari, Scott, Amanda, David, Brent, Ashley, Christopher; six great-grandchildren: Matilda, Clara, Thomas, Elisa, Victoria, and Brody; brother, Rodney (Marian) Flatau, Frazee, MN; sister, Violet (Walt) Johnson, Port Angeles, WA; sisters' in-law, Charlotte Carow, Edgeley, ND; Esther Smith, Cypress, CA; Nettie Carow, Perham, MN; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Rhoda Koehnen; and infant son, Joseph.

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00am on Saturday, November 29, 2008 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Mahnomen. Visitation will be held on Friday, November 28, from 5:00pm until 7:00pm with a Prayer Service beginning at 6:30pm, all at the Anderson-Mattson Funeral Home in Mahnomen. Interment will be at the Flatau Family Cemetery, near Perham, MN.

Memorials for Vern Flatau may be sent to the family or the following organizations:

Vernon Flatau Family

Box 297

Mahnomen, MN 56557

or

Lutheran Social Services

Respite Care

Attn: Tammy Sykes

100 Jefferson Avenue SW

Fertile, MN 56540

or

Hospice of the Red River Valley

Attention: Development Office

1701 38th Street S Ste 101

Fargo, ND 58103-4499

http://www.hrrv.org/donors-donate.php