Hardean Bonkrude

Former North Mankato resident, Hardean Bonkrude, age 77 died Saturday morning, April 1, 2006 at Lakeview Ranch in Darwin, Minnesota.

Funeral service will be 1:00 p.m. Tuesday at Messiah Lutheran Church in North Mankato. Burial with military honors will be in Woodland Hills Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Monday at Mankato Mortuary and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday.

Hardean Hardy Bonkrude was born May 19, 1928 in Barron, WI, the son of Lester D. and Dena (Erickson) Bonkrud. Hardean was baptized and confirmed in the Dallas Lutheran Church in Dallas, WI. He grew upon a farm near Dallas, attended country grade school and graduated from Barron High School in 1945. After graduation, he attended St. Olaf College and graduated in 1949 with a BA degree. Hardy was drafted in the US Army in 1950 and served in the Korean War. After his honorable discharge, he got a teaching degree from Mankato State University and began his teaching career in Mapleton.

Hardean married Marilyn Mae Fahning in Wells on December 22, 1956. They made their home in North Mankato. Hardy taught at East High School in Mankato. He later received a Ph degree from the University of Minnesota and continued his teaching in Mankato.

Hardy attended and was very active at Messiah Lutheran Church in North Mankato. He enjoyed many hobbies, chess, handball, fishing, and hunting.

After several strokes, Hardy entered assisted living at Oak Terrace in North Mankato and subsequently moved to Lakeview Ranch at Darwin, MN.

Survivors include his brother, Wayne Bonkrude and his wife, Mary of Litchfield, brother-in-law, Dr. Melvin Fahning of Hudson, WI; sister-in-law, Marlene Fahning of St. Paul, MN; many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Hardy was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Marilyn, who died on February 11, 1999.