Marlene Akerson 1942 – 2026

The funeral service celebrating the life of Marlene Akerson, a resident of Galeon Care Center in Osakis and formerly of Menahga, was held on Friday, Jan. 9, at the RELAYT Church (formerly First English Lutheran Church) in Menahga. Burial was in the Menahga City Cemetery.
Marlene, age 83, passed away with family at her side on Jan. 5, 2026, at Galeon Community Care Center in Osakis, Minn., with compassionate care by the staff and CentraCare Hospice.
Marlene was born to Edward and Marcella (Handorff) Walther on Oct. 26, 1942, in Glenwood, Minn. She attended school in Villard and later took a cooking class at the Detroit Lakes Vocational School.
After meeting Richard Kirckof, they were married July 30, 1960, made their home in Brooten, Minn., and raised six children. They later parted ways. On Aug. 28, 1974, she married Russell Akerson and was blessed with another child.
Hours away from work, Marlene liked to cook and bake. Everyone raved about her cooking! Her family thought of her as a social butterfly as Marlene loved to visit often with friends and would play BINGO every night if she could; and enjoyed listening and dancing to old-style country music. Outdoors, Marlene liked to fish either from shore, in a boat, or on ice! All her life she had a soft spot for animals including most recently, her Shih Tzu named, Bunkers, and Oscar, a cat she rescued. Most of all, she liked to be with her family for gatherings and her grandchildren’s activities. A faithful servant of God, Marlene leaned on her faith during the hard times in her life.
Preceding Marlene in death were her husband, Russell (1979); parents: Edward and Marcella; sons: Alan and Kevin Kirckof; infant brother, Charles; granddaughter, Aleshia Greenwaldt; sons-in-law: Gary Odland and Jeff Greenwaldt; parents-in-law, Birger and Winnifred (Oslund) Akerson; and partner, Stan Sakkinen.
Surviving Marlene are her children: Mark (Kara) Kirckof of Brooten, Tammy (Gene) Odland of Browerville, Kurt (Yvette) Kirckof, Brad (Kristie) Kirckof both of Sauk Centre, and Tanya (Marwin) Akerson of New London; 16 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren; along with extended family and friends.
Honorary pallbearers were Marlene’s granddaughters and all of her great grandchildren.
Serving as pallbearers were Dakota Elmore, Aaron Kirckof, Emmit Kirckof, Daniel Kirckof, Parker Daniels, Matthew Kirckof, and Tyson Whitaker.
Arrangements with the Schuller Family Funeral Homes & Cremation Services serving Wadena, Bertha, Verndale and surrounding communities in MN. Online condolences may be left at www.SchullerFamilyFH.com.
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