Carl Burk


Carl Burk, 75, Mahtomedi, formerly of Lake Benton, died Monday, August 28, 2017 at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis.

A memorial visitation will be held  Friday, October 13 from 4-7 p.m. with a prayer service at 6:30 p.m. at Grace Lutheran Church, Lake Benton.

Memorial services will be held Saturday, October 14 at 10:30 a.m. at Grace Lutheran Church.

A private burial will be held.

Carl Alvin Burk was born March 26, 1942 to Julius and Alvina (Oerter) Burk in Tyler. He was baptized and confirmed at Diamond Lake Lutheran Church of rural Lake Benton. He grew up in Tyler, Arco, Ivanhoe, Madison, Lake Benton and Pipestone, graduating from Pipestone High School in 1960. He enlisted and was very proud to have served in the U.S. Navy in 1960 and was honorably discharged June 15, 1966. He returned to Pipestone and went to college at Winona State College graduating with distinction in 1967.

While at Winona State he met JoAn Whorton. The couple were married September 2, 1967 at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Winona. The couple moved to Madison, Wis., where Carl taught social studies at Gompers/Blackhawk Middle School. While teaching in Madison, Carl was awarded the Teacher of the Year Award by the DAR. After 30 years of teaching he retired in 1997 and they moved to Lake Benton. Carl and JoAn restored the old Briffet House to establish Benton House Bed & Breakfast. In 2004, Carl restored the old firehouse into the Buffalo Ridge Coffee and Trading Company. They retired from that business in 2011 and from operating a bed and breakfast in 2013. Carl and JoAn had recently moved to Mahtomedi to be closer to their family and his doctors.

He was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Lake Benton. He served in the life of the congregation on the church council, as treasurer, sang in the Men of Grace, ushered and taught Sunday school. He was a member of the Henry Sollie American Legion Post #10 of Lake Benton and Lions Club. He served the community of Lake Benton on the City Council, Library Board, a liaison for the Police Department, Chamber of Commerce, Lake Benton Opera House Board, and Visions in Progress (VIP), and had been Citizen of the Year. He was the pioneer of the Benton-Fremont/Te Tonka Ha Rendezvous.

He is survived by his wife of 49 years, JoAn, Mahtomedi; sons, James (Kimberly), Montrose and Paul (Heike), New Glarus, Wis. and three grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and his siblings, baby boy Burk, Joyce McColm and Jack Burk; aunts, uncles and cousins.

(Hartquist Funeral Home,

Utoft-Johansen Chapel,

Lake Benton)