A private service for family and friends of Andrew James Bakken, Napoleon, ND will be held Friday, December 30, 2016. Burial will be at Napoleon City Cemetery, Napoleon, ND.

Andrew James was born April 4, 1943 to Alfred and Martha (Lang)

Bakken at Napoleon, ND. He graduated from Napoleon High School in May 1959. After graduation he stayed on the family farm until October, 1960 when he joined the US Army. The next three years were spent touring Germany in an armored personnel carrier as a heavy weapons infantryman and sometimes company clerk. In April, 1964 he was hired as a clerk at the Logan County ASCS Office, eventually becoming the Executive Director. He took an early retirement in October of 1994 to pursue farming full time. Andrew married Sharlene Retzlaff on October 9, 1965 at Napoleon, ND. They started farming in 1968, renting land from his parents and ultimately owning and farming both of their parents' farms. Andy considered himself retired but never was idle, helping wherever he was needed on the farm.

Andy died Tuesday, December 27, 2016 at St. Alexius Medical Center, Bismarck, ND. He was 73 years old.

Blessed to have been a part of his life are his wife, Sharlene, his son, Dallas and his wife Jackie; grandsons, Drew, Jake and Quinn; five brothers, Tom (Chris) Anderson, Rodney (Ardyth) Bakken, Thomas A. (Marge) Bakken, Robert (Arleen) Bakken and Carlas (Rhonda) Bakken. Andrew was preceded in death by his son, Jon, his parents, Alfred and Martha, his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Agnes and Tony Retzlaff.