Post by IQ on Oct 17, 2008 11:18:58 GMT -5
Marlon Halbakken
Marlon Halbakken
September 27, 1955 - October 17, 2008
September 27, 1955 - October 17, 2008
Marlon Halbakken passed away Friday, October 17, 2008 at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri at the age of 53. Marlon was born September 27, 1955 in Winona, Minnesota to his father, Marvin Elmer Halbakken, Sr., and his mother, Lucille Alice Cole Halbakken.
He was raised in a farming community with six brothers; Marvin, Gilman, James, Mark, Mitchael and Daniel. He graduated from Lewiston Altura High School in 1974. In his senior year, with the help of a class friend, Clare Craven, he professed to serve God.
A year later, in the fall of 1975, Marlon started in the ministry in Minnesota. He then continued in the work in the Colorado and Utah area. For the last two years of his calling, he has been in the Maryland and Virginia area. Through his 33 years of ministry, Marlon has gained boundless spiritual friends as his extended family.
He is preceded in death by his parents.
Visitation: Saturday October 25 at 10a.m. at Lewiston Altura High School, Lewiston, Minnesota.
Funeral: Saturday October 25 at 2p.m. at Lewiston Altura High School, Lewiston, Minnesota.
Burial: Lewiston Public Cemetery.
A man of God with a gentle and kind spirit taken swiftly to heaven above. Loved by many and missed by all.
www.hofffuneralhomes.com/content/obituaries/view.jsp?OID=40988
Obituaries
Dateline: Lewiston
Name: Marlon Lyle Halbakken, 53
Died: Friday, October 17, 2008, in Barnes Jewish Hospital - St. Louis, MO
Marlon Lyle Halbakken passed away Friday, October 17, 2008 at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri at the age of 53. Marlon was born September 27, 1955 in Winona, Minnesota to Lucille Alice Cole Halbakken and Marvin Elmer Halbakken, Sr.
He was raised in a farming community with six brothers; Marvin, (Laura); Gilman, (Judy); James, (Deborah); Mark, (Stephanie); Mitchael, (Kari); and Daniel. He graduated from Lewiston Altura High School in 1974. In his senior year, with the help of a class friend, Clare Craven, (son of Clarence and Mae Craven), he professed to serve God.
In the fall of 1975, Marlon started in the ministry in Minnesota. He then continued in the work in the Colorado and Utah areas. For the last two years of his calling, he has been in the Maryland and Virginia areas. Marlon has touched countless souls and affected many, many lives in the profession and teachings of his faith and service to God. In his passing Marlon has extended peace and comfort to his Family and Friends in their knowing he is at peace with his God. Through his 33 years of ministry, Marlon has gained boundless spiritual friends as his extended family.
He is preceded in death by his parents.
Funeral Services will be 2PM Saturday, October 25, 2008 at Lewiston-Altura High School in Lewiston. Friends may call from 10 AM – 2PM at the High School. Burial will follow services in Lewiston Public Cemetery.
Visitation Schedule
Date: Saturday, October 25, 2008
Time: 10AM - 2PM
Location: Lewiston-Altura High School
Service Schedule
Date: Saturday, October 25, 2008
Time: 2 PM
Location: Lewiston-Altura High School
Burial Schedule
Date: Saturday, October 25, 2008
Time: 3 PM
Location: Lewiston Public Cemetery
Marlon Halbakken's Funeral Notes
October 25, 2008 2:00 pm
Lewison-Altura High School, Lewiston, MN
October 25, 2008 2:00 pm
Lewison-Altura High School, Lewiston, MN
There were 40 brother workers and 54 sister workers present.
There were about 950 friends and family present.
Marlon Lyle Halbakken passed away Friday, October 17, 2008 at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, MO at the age of 53. Marlon was born September 27, 1955 in Winona, MN to Lucille Alice Cole Halbakken and Marvin Elmer Halbakken, Sr. He was raised in a farming community with 6 brothers; Marvin, (Laura); Gilman, (Judy); James, (Deborah); Mark, (Stephanie); Mitchael, (Kari); and Daniel. He graduated from Lewiston Altura High School in 1974. In his senior year, with the help of a class friend, Clare Craven, (son of Clarence and Mae Craven), he professed to serve God.
In the fall of 1975, Marlon started in the ministry in Minnesota. He then continued in the work in the Colorado and Utah areas. For the last two years of his calling, he has been in the Maryland and Virginia areas. Marlon has touched countless souls and affected many, many lives in the profession and teachings of his faith and service to God. In his passing, Marlon has extended peace and comfort to his Family and Friends in their knowing he is at peace with his God. Through his 33 years of ministry, Marlon has gained boundless spiritual friends as his extended family. He is preceded in death by his parents.
Leslie White—This is a wonderful tribute to our brother, Marlon, and to God. It was 35 years ago as a senior in high school that Marlon sat reading his Bible one day in class. You know, it all started with a faithful mother who taught him to fear God. There was a longing in Marlon's heart and questions in his mind. It was at this school that another man came to him one day and asked him if he understood what he was reading; and Marlon listened to him and began listening to the gospel. After sitting in several gospel meetings, Marlon was given the opportunity to stand to his feet and profess his desire to serve God, and he did. It was this Hymn 78 that was sung when he stood to his feet. The third verse says "Though I know not what awaits me, yet I will not shrink or fear; Thou shalt guide me with Thy counsel, to my mind thy way make clear." Marlon lived that out and he followed the counsel of God all of his life.
Hymn 78 was sung by the congregation.
Pat Johnson prayed.
Jared Snyder—I had the privilege to work with Marlon for a year when he first came to Maryland two years ago. I often think of the kind way he treated me—much like a kind, patient, older brother. You know, there are times when a little brother thinks that he is much more grown up than he really is. But Marlon never treated me that way. Marlon encouraged me to grow up in this work and to understand what it means to be a grown up. There was one day early in our time together as we were riding in the car that Marlon said, not so much to me as to himself, that "we can't help people if we don't love them." I saw that lived out in Marlon in the year we were together. His first responsibility was to those around him. Most of the people are easy to love, but he also loved those who are not so easy to love. As I thought about having a word here today, the verse that came to my mind is in Philippians 2.17. "Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all." This is how Paul felt toward the Philippians. If it cost Paul everything, it was his joy to give it to them. Marlon was that same way towards the work. He wasn't afraid for it to cost him something, and he was willing to give all he had. He was glad to give what he had. I remember the time when he spoke about approaching the Lord about his sins. He asked the Lord, "How do you feel about my sins?" And he was glad to share the answer that the Lord gave to him—I'm glad that I could die for you to help you, to forgive your sins. Marlon never claimed to be any less of a sinner than any of the rest of us, but it seemed as though he had a much deeper appreciation of all that has been done for him than some of the rest of us do. His feelings were that he could give, and he was glad to give and didn't regret anything that he had given. It makes me feel a responsibility to be what Marlon was in my own life. God wants to point those things out that were in Marlon that he would like to see in us also. I am just so glad to have known Marlon.
Jon Knochenmus—A few thoughts from Galatians 5.22-25. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." We are all here because we were acquainted with Marlon. I think if we could all note one thing in thinking of him, it would be his spirit. The thing that we loved so much in our brother, our coworker, and our friend was his spirit. These verses describe what God's work through Marlon became—those fruits of the spirit. As Leslie mentioned, it was just a few feet from here where that work began in Marlon's life 34 years ago. It began to influence Marlon's life and it caused him to become the man of God that we have all loved and esteemed. It seems fitting to culminate these 34 out of 53 years that he spent serving God here in this place. And it was all because of the question that was asked of him. But because there was a prayer in Marlon's heart and a desire, the way was opened up for Marlon to see. Marlon's prayers in those early days are the kinds of prayers that God loves to answer. At our recent convention privileges, Marlon spoke of the first time that he really knew God was there. It was in his grandparents' home one day when he was questioning, and went up to his room. He got down on his knees and he prayed to God. He just wanted to know if God was there and if God was real. God was dealing with him at 8 years old. God continued to mold and influence and shape his life. As the harvest draws ever closer, the branches bow lower to the ground. I feel that most of us here who knew Marlon would agree that one of his qualities, a savor of his spirit, was his humility. As the spirit grew and the fruit ripened and softened, it had more weight, it was more tangible. And that could be seen in his humbly bowing lower and deeper.
Just another thought from the Old Testament, and not that I'm comparing Marlon's life to the priesthood, because there are differences, but there are things that we can compare. Exodus 28.33-34. "And beneath upon the hem of it thou shalt make pomegranates of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, round about the hem thereof; and bells of gold between them round about: A golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, upon the hem of the robe round about." The priests were asked to wear these garments. It is symbolic, and it helps us to understand that there is a balance between the sound of the bell and the fruit that is seen. There was a wonderful balance in Marlon's life between the fruit and the sound. The fruit on the hem of the gown represents the fruit of the spirit. The blue represents the heavenly. The purple represents royalty. The scarlet represents sacrifice. The fruit that is seen in the lives of his people—it is tangible to those around us who are looking. There can't be more sound than fruit, neither can there be more fruit than sound. When the fruit is balanced with the words that are spoken, it means everything. It gives confidence, assurance, peace and rest. We are thankful that Marlon's life has given us a peace. It was three weeks ago, when we were at Blackwater convention and getting ready to leave that Marlon said to me, "Thanks for going on. Let's keep going on. I'll see you again soon." Little did we know that we would be here today. It was 4 weeks ago that we were talking about how good we felt; he was out running every morning. There was no thought that we would be here today. I have many pleasant memories as a younger worker in my first days in the work of being with Marlon. We worked at convention preps together and shared sleeping quarters. I remember walking in to see Marlon on his knees praying in those sleeping quarters. I knew that he was in touch with God. We shared so many good times together. In the last weeks during our convention privileges, we were traveling together from Hunter to Blackwater and stopped for the night in Sioux Falls. We were guests in the home there, and shared a room. I came downstairs and walked into the room, and again saw Marlon on his knees beside the bed, praying. It brought me a comfort because I know that he was in touch with God because I could see the results in his life. We are thankful that we know the price that was paid so we can see the effects in his life and in ours. Matthew 7.24-25. "Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock." That house stood because it was founded on the solid rock. It is a wonderful thing when someone who has accepted this and is doing this can speak this message to us. It is not enough to just hear and be touched, but we must also do what God is touching our hearts about. If we choose, He will lead us to move and to do and to turn. When we are willing to turn from our ways, it will bring a blessing upon our lives. The completion of that turning brings a stability to those who are touched by it.
I was also thinking of those verses in John 11.1-36.
"Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.) Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was. Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again. His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again? Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him? These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him. Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellow disciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him. Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already. Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off: And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house. Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world. And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee. As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him. Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him. The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there. Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. Jesus wept. Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!"
In verse 34, the Jews said to come and see, and then it says that Jesus wept. There are many who are thinking of us here who have shed tears today. Jesus didn't shed tears on that day because the situation wasn't good. Jesus shed tears because he had a sense of the feelings that day, and he entered into their mourning. It helps us to understand how Jesus feels in our need today. We aren't looking for God to raise our brother again. We are glad that Satan has no more access to him. It is sealed and settled in heaven, although we keenly feel the loss and need before us today. We are comforted in the fact that our brother heard the voice of Jesus 34 years ago and responded to that voice. So at the resurrection, when that call comes, and the dead are raised first, Marlon will recognize that voice. When that call becomes so loud, everyone will have to respond. We are so thankful that Marlon heard and responded. It is my purpose to understand and respond to the voice of God. What will produce a readiness in our own experience? We are thankful to experience the power of the resurrection in Marlon's life. He wasn't raised from the power of death and sin until he understood, and then lived out the power of the resurrection life in preparation for eternity. What we have seen and experienced in Marlon's life—he followed the gospel to preach the word of God. The results are what we see before us today. There is eternal life and all beyond the grave. I don't want to miss the magnitude of the experience for my own life. I am thankful for the effects of the gospel in my life. We feel for the family today, and are thankful for the family, and those in this state and others who encouraged him to go forth and to continue to die to himself.
Leslie White—I am glad for what we heard earlier about the fruits of the spirit in Marlon's life. When I heard of his passing, I just wondered why it couldn't have been me instead, and Marlon speaking at my service. I saw his body kneeling and his service. You know, that is how he lived, and how he got purpose and how he prepared. So that's what I did to prepare for this service. I saw him last at Independence and heard him speak there. You know, he wasn't feeling good there, and was in pain. But he spoke about love from I John. And he was such an example of that. When someone loves a thing, it means more than anything else to them. Marlon handled the things of Jesus carefully because he loved them. There will be a resurrection. Some people say that this will be the final resting place. But it isn't. Not for his body. There will be a resurrection, and someday God will raise up this body again. God gave Marlon a spirit, and now he has taken the spirit back. Marlon is closer to God now than ever before. But there is not a new body yet. When Jesus comes back and shouts, the dead will be raised first. When the Lord shouts, then out of the grave will come the body, and into the body will go the spirit.
It all begins with choices. Marlon was moved by God at an early age. I think all of us who knew him could say that Marlon's face shone. He would always say that today was such a good day. Every day was a good day for Marlon. Proverbs 15.15 "…but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast." In his heart, we know that Marlon loved the Lord. He loved helping souls. He knew it wasn't just in his thinking. Proverbs 13.12. "Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life. Whose despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded." Just knowing hope, but not doing or loving makes one unhappy. It is in the knowing and doing that makes a happy heart. Marlon knew what he should be doing, and he loved doing it. Ecclesiastes 7.1. "A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth." The reason we want to be here today is to just be with Marlon one more time. There are people who will spend millions of dollars just to try to get an ointment or a perfume that will make other people want to be around them. But we would give anything just to be with Marlon one more time. It says the day of death is better than the day of birth. I often ask new parents what they are all excited about, after all it happens all the time. It says here that the day of death is better. At the day of birth, a new life is just beginning, but at the day of death the soul has gone back to be with God. Ecclesiastes 8.1-5. "Who is as the wise man? And who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? A man's wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed. I counsel thee to keep the king's commandment, and that in regard of the oath of God. Be not hasty to go out of his sight: stand not in an evil thing; for he doeth whatsoever pleaseth him. Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou? Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man's heart discerneth both time and judgment." A wise man's heart knows both time and judgment. He doesn't go from God's presence, and it maketh his face to shine. Marlon was a wise man, and it began in his youth. His mother would often come to visit him; he loved it when she would come. She was a praying mother, and she had the fear of God instilled in Marlon at a young age. God gave him wisdom. Wisdom is the principle thing. God can speak to individuals—are you there? That is the hope of mankind—that God will speak to us. We know when it's Him. It doesn't matter if others speak against us if God is on our side. It's our choice; Marlon didn't know what awaited him. When God called him to the ministry, he didn't run away. Proverbs 13.7. "There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches." II Corinthians 8.9. "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich." He became poor for the gospel's sake, but was made so rich. Some people are so greedy, but yet they have nothing of any eternal value. " …that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches." That was Marlon. The tests came, but his desire was there. In his second year he went into the work. When the call came, he scattered his earthly belongings and went. It was so different from that young man we read about in Matthew 19.16-22. "And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions." That young man went away sorrowful, because he wasn't willing to do what Jesus asked of him. Jesus told Peter to "follow me." Marlon heard those same things to his own heart. It is the grandest power, when Jesus says follow me and there are young lives that listen. Marlon scattered his own and believed in the Lord. We are thankful for open homes. Matthew 19. 27-29. "Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life." Peter left all, and he received a hundred fold. Anyone who is willing to give up their own will, the prospects are a hundred fold. The friends who took Marlon in, that was his extended family. Marlon was in Utah and Colorado for 12 years, all of those we spent together. I remember once there was a lady in Utah who was going through some troubling times, and we sat around the dinner table one night in her home. I like to talk, and that night I talked and tried to provide words of comfort, but Marlon just sat there. You know though, later, it was said how much of a comfort Marlon was to them. Just in his quietness, he was a comfort. The spirit of God was with him. I want to have that kind of spirit in me also. I have thought since hearing of Marlon's passing, "why couldn't I have gone, I'm older." I would rather have Marlon be speaking at my service. But you know, he had premonitions and feelings those few weeks before. But how could you have planned it better. He had been on convention rounds, and he had time with Dan. Yet, here we are today. We are thankful for his life. We don't want to question God. He could raise this body if He wanted. Acts 12. Herod hated Jesus, and loved only himself. He put James and Peter in prison. Peter was in prison, after James was killed, and knowing that he was to be killed the next day, but he was sleeping. What a peace he must have had, and confidence in God. But that night, while he was sleeping, that angel came and those chains were loosed, and Peter was released. God let James die, because it was in his plan. The same reason God has taken Marlon from us in his youth, but we don't question God's will. We are so happy to see all who are here today, and know what it means to the family. We want to have more of that in our own lives.
Marlon had such a tender heart. Hymn 215, the third verse reads "Give me a heart that knows no guile, a heart forgiving all the while, a heart that reaches to do a deed, and stoops to help a friend in need. I want to feel the pain my neighbors often know and lend a helping hand if he be friend or foe. I want to share the loss in every weal or woe and have a tender heart, where'er I go." That was Marlon, he had no guile in his spirit. And whether it was friend or foe, he loved them all.
Hymn 215 was sung by the congregation.
Graveside Service
Hymn 392 was sung by the congregation.
John Smart—There isn't much that I can add, but I am so thankful to have a part in this service. Matthew 5.14. "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid." We are to be a reflection of the light of Christ. To be a true reflection, we must be pure and clean. Marlon helped me to see when I was with him what God can do in a yielded life. I can't begin to describe it, so I won't even try. I am so glad to be a part of this great family. I want to do what I can to help the kingdom.
John McDonald prayed.