Marvin E. Teske

Ellendale, ND-Memorial service for Marvin E. Teske, 79, of Ellendale will be 10:00 am, Friday, November 6, 2020 at New Life Assembly of God in Ellendale. Pastor Bob Forbes will officiate. Masks are required. The service will be live streamed and available at www.Carlsenfh.com under Marvin's obituary.
Marvin died November 2, 2020 at Avera St. Luke's Hospital in Aberdeen.
Marvin Emanuel Teske, son of Emanual and Lydia Frieda (Konrad) Teske was born January 27, 1941, a cold North Dakota Monday, in a small birthing house in Ellendale. He was the eldest of four siblings, two younger sisters and a brother. His early years of education began at Fullerton Public School, up through the 11th grade, where he then transitioned to Sheyenne River Academy, thus completing his high school tenure, and graduating in the spring of 1959.
As a young boy growing up, there were many "loves" that he had. Baseball... whether playing it while in high school, or watching it on tv throughout his later years. Gardening... which continues to this day, with the impressive 50-vine spread of grapes that yielded quite that harvest this fall. Or his recent planting of sugar beets, the result of his curiosity for always wanting to "try something new." One fond memory in particular of his was drag-racing behind the wheel of an old ‘59 ford with his friends (and anyone else that he could get in trouble with), which as described by his kids, took place while his parents were in Prayer Meeting. And then of course there was farming, which began while tilling the fields at the age of ten, driving a "B John Deere" for his Dad.
After high school, Marvin attended Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska where he studied agriculture for two years. He then planted that knowledge back into the fields, once again working with his Dad harvesting wheat, corn, and soybeans. This would ultimately be his "calling," retiring at the age of 62 and having spent the better part of 69 years in the fields. But amidst all of this there was one more "Love" that he would become dearly fond of... one that he had known of for a time while attending church at Ellendale... but that he did not really "know"... at least not yet. Her name was Connie Krupsky. And the rest is history. On Sunday, November 7, 1971, they were married at Ellendale Seventh-Day Adventist Church and spent the next 48 years together, their 49th just around the corner.
Marvin was the father of four children. Trevor the eldest, Trenton and Tonya second and third, and Tenielle the youngest. During the course of his years as a farmer, and as one of his children described it, "he was a workaholic", spending six days a week in the field, and one very anticipated day of rest on Sabbath. However, at the age of 41 his health challenges began when he suffered his first heart attack. Connie says, "this led to him spending more time with his family." He would survive five more of those, which ultimately resulted in three open-heart surgeries, 15 stent placements, seven total by-passes, with his heart stopping twice. Yet he continued his work of supporting and providing for his family without question.
Grateful for having shared Marvin's life are his wife, Connie; four children, Trevor Teske of Ellendale, Trenton (Natasha) Teske of Ellendale, Tonya (Rance) Smith of Klamath Falls, OR and Tenielle (Scott) Holste of Dayton, OH; three grandchildren, Reagan Teske, Riley Teske and Rivers Smith; and two sisters, Virginia (Raymond) Weigel of Edgeley, ND and Delores Jerke of Lincoln, NE.
He is preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Kenneth Teske.
Marvin was undoubtedly a man that not only embraced the opportunity to work, but he also had an affinity for reading, especially the writings of Sister White, the Farmer's Almanac, or the Holy Scriptures. He was drawn to music, listening to the old spiritual hymns, some of his favorites. As his family remembers, "he loved to try different and unusual things. He was an experimenter, a fixer of machinery or tractor equipment," and a builder of "things like cabinets. If he built it you knew it was sturdy enough that when the kids climbed all over it, it wasn't going to break." He was a "giving person." Marvin was faithful in supporting children of various orphanages. He was attending to those in need by putting several useful items (such as a Subway gift card, a bottle of water and a copy of the Great Controversy) in bags and distributing them to the homeless. But most of all, he was an example to his wife and children. Here are some pleasurable memories and terms of endearment:
... "kind, giving, determined, having exceptional work ethic, NOT a perfectionist, silly, goofy, humorous, a teacher, loving, having a big heart… and patient."
(Riley)... "My 2 best memories I have with Grandpa are our little ice cream dates and grape-picking. He would always call Regan and I and ask us to get some ice cream with him at little ice cream shops. We would drive to LaMoure and sit down and eat our chocolate and vanilla swirl cones. My other favorite memory was when Grandpa would knock on the door and ask me to help him pick grapes. He would always ask me to make him ‘no cackle-berries' oatmeal cookies and he would always say they taste better every time. I love him for always wanting the simple little things in life."
(Reagan)... "My favorite memory with Grandpa and the thing that I will always miss the most is him taking me on drives. He was always down to teach me how to drive a stick. When I forgot his little comment would be ‘ahh Reagan you drive so fast." Another thing I will never forget is the contract him and I wrote up together saying ‘I would rather throw a rock at a boy than kiss him' and ‘lick your plate if you go on a date.' I love him for his wise words and teaching ability."
(Tenielle)... "When I was little, I would lie on the floor beside him with my head on his chest and listen to his heartbeat, I can still remember that sound."
(Tonya)... "Dad used to take us out to the backyard, and we would spread out a blanket and watch the stars."
(Trent)... "Hard to say. Too many to count."
(Trevor)... "He was always so nice to me!"
Marvin now lies in rest, in peaceful sleep, awaiting the Great and Glorious return of Jesus. May he always be remembered by the talents imparted to him, the impact of his life on others, and by the example he was to his family.
The family prefers memorials to Mission Projects Inc., PO Box 504, College Place, WA 99324 or International Children's Care, PO Box 820610, Vancouver, WA 98682.
Carlsen Funeral Home of Ellendale has been entrusted with arrangements.

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