Marvin Arthur Brees

Marvin Arthur Brees, 97, died Saturday, July 26, 2008, in Fairbanks.

Marvin was born July 25, 1911, in Osakis, Minn., to Harry and Jeffrey Brees and grew up on the family farm. He attended school in a one-room schoolhouse that sat beside their farmhouse. In 1930, Dorthy Mae Harmon came to teach at the school. They were married on Nov. 10, 1934, in Osakis.

When Marvin was 16, he became a full-time farmer. While he farmed with his father, his sister, Millie, helped their mother milk the cows. Marvin said he paid $500 for his first tractor and $2,200 for a two-row corn picker. He always spoke with pride about the fact that he managed to pay off the corn picker that fall by picking corn from all over the area, including a 200-acre field that was the largest one around. He made $2 an acre.

Marvin farmed 400 acres until 1947. Sons Arlo and Avan were born in Minnesota.

He said, "We decided to quit farming after a friend had gone to Alaska in 1947 and talked us into coming up. We left Minnesota in February and made the trip in three weeks on the Alaska Highway, arriving March 1, 1948."

In Fairbanks, Marvin worked for $4 an hour as a cement finisher, and Dorothy worked at Sears for 90 cents an hour. Their daughter, Corlus, and youngest son, Hugh, were born after they settled in Fairbanks. Marvin continued to live in Fairbanks for 60 years until his death.

He was a member of Pioneers of Alaska Igloo 4, Operators Union Local 302 and a past member of the Moose and Elks lodges.

An avid gardener, he enjoyed fishing, hunting and traveling all over the world in his later years.

Marvin is survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Merlund and Stella Brees; sister, Marion Skierecki; sons and daughters-in-law, Arlo and Charlotte, Avan and Beverly and Hugh and Sylvia; daughter and son-in-law, Corlus and Jerry Branson; 17 grandchildren, 35 great-grandchildren, eight great-great grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and other relatives and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Dorothy; brother, Melvin; sisters, Myrtle and Mildred; and three grandchildren.

Visitation for Marvin will be held from noon-3 p.m., Friday, Aug. 1, at Northern Lights Mortuary followed by a graveside service at Northern Lights Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to a charity of the donator's choice.

Arrangements were by Northern Lights Mortuary and Memorial Park.