Duane “Ole” Melvin Bakken was born on May 1, 1934 on a farm near Hanlontown, Iowa, to Melvin and Bertine (Bjaaland) Bakken. He attended Hanlontown Schools but graduated from Colorado Springs Main High after his family moved here in 1951. He attended Colorado State College of Education, now UNC, and was a member of the AFROTC program. Upon graduation, he served in the Air Force as a Navigator/Electronic Warfare Officer. He was a long-time teacher and librarian at North Junior High and Russell Junior High Schools in the city. He also was employed as a part-time reference librarian in Tutt Library at Colorado College for more than 38 years.

He married Clairette Joan Skinner on July 5, 1958. They celebrated 67 years together this year. Their love was a model and inspiration to all who knew them.  

Ole was known for his parodies presented at the end of the school year which celebrated the events of the year or current happenings at Russell Junior and also at Tutt Library of Colorado College. He was a Charter Member and a past President of Fjellheim Lodge of the Sons of Norway where he sang folk songs and chaired Lutefisk Dinners. He sang traditional Norwegian songs including “Den Storre Vite Flok” at memorial services for Scandinavian friends.  

He is survived by his wife and three sons, Kurt, Kevin, and Erling; grandchildren, Arielle, Amber, Mitchell, Blake, Terrell, and Spencer; his sister Karen Predovich; brother-in-law Dale Wilmeth; and many nieces and nephews. 

He was preceded in death by his parents Melvin and Bertine Bakken and sisters Thelma Hottel, Genevieve Moen, Sylvia Toney, Dena McDowall, and Beverly Wilmeth.  

He was a man of humor and wisdom who will be dearly missed.  

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Sons of Norway, 1045 Ford Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80915