Obituary of Carsten Dokken

Carsten Raymond Elliot Dokken passed away on Saturday, September 5, 2009 at the age of 82. He was born on December 31, 1926 in Petersburg, North Dakota, and immigrated with his family to North Rolla, British Columbia, where they homesteaded in 1928. He grew up on a farm in North Rolla with his mother and father, Alma and Selmer Dokken, and his siblings, Harriet (Torkelson), Sherwin, Jean (Craig), Tommy and Arlan. He attended North Rolla School and North Rolla Lutheran Church. Carsten married Barbara Johnson in 1949, at St. Marks Anglican Church in Dawson Creek, and they had five children. As a young man Carsten worked with his brother Sherwin on the Alaska Highway and he helped his uncle log in Enderby. But farming was always what made him happiest. He began working for School Board Maintenance in Dawson Creek in 1952 but would return to the homestead to farm on weekends; he said he was going "out home." He returned to farming fulltime in 1969 when the family moved back to the home quarter in North Rolla. Carsten will be remembered as a kind-hearted and easy-going man who was often a quiet observer but who also had a quick sense of humour. He enjoyed a good joke and always had a ready remark or funny anecdote. He was interested in people and liked to visit neighbors and go on Sunday drives to look at the crops. He played guitar when he was young and always loved riding horses and caring for farm animals and pets. Carsten liked to camp and he travelled throughout the United States, but he was very rooted: His extended family and his farm were most important to him. He was an indulgent dad and a playful and affectionate grandpa. Throughout his long illness, Carsten kept his sense of humour, his gratitude, and kindness towards his family and caregivers. Carsten was predeceased by his father and mother, Selmer and Alma Dokken, and his brothers, Sherwin and Tommy. He is survived by his wife, Barbara; his children Rhonda, Gary (Lou), Dale (Janet), Wendy (Scott), and Randy (Joanne); by his grandchildren, Heather (Jason), Aaron (Maria), Jarrod (Andrea) Jordan (Angie), Laura (Paul), Elliot (Nickie), and Kari (Travis); by his great-grandchildren, Justice, Allie, Dexter, and Jackson; and by and his "little one," Maggie. A Funeral Service was held on Friday, September 11, 2009, at 1:00 pm at the Grace Lutheran Church. Pastor Tim Johnson officiated. Interment followed in the North Rolla Lutheran Church Cemetery. Very Respectfully, Reynars Funeral Home & Crematorium, Dawson Creek, B.C.