Roland Newton, age 85, of New York Mills, MN and formerly of Battle Lake, MN died on Thursday July 20, 2006 at Tri County Hospital in Wadena, MN. Funeral services were on Monday July 24, 2006 at Trinity Lutheran Church in New York Mills with Rev. Jon Haakana officiating. Music was provided by Janell Brakel, organist, with vocal selections by Leon and Abby Dawkins, accompanied by Mary Newton. Casketbearers were Rolands' grandchildren: Nick Newton, Brian Newton, Wayne Newton, Bruce Newton, Tim Newton, Brad Newton, Skip Newton, and Kathy (Newton) Miller. Interment is in the Lakewood Cemetery at Battle Lake, MN.
Roland Edward Newton was born on March 19, 1921 on a farm near Iowa Falls, IA the son of Louis and Susie (Buzzell) Newton. He attended country school through the eighth grade and graduated from Iowa Falls High School in 1938. He attended Ellsworth College in Iowa Falls, Iowa State University at Ames, and the Lutheran Free Seminary in Medicine Lake, MN. He was married to Frances Lucille Engle on October 21, 1940 at the First Baptist Church in Iowa Falls, IA.
After their marriage they farmed near Iowa Falls, IA until 1954 and continued farming until 1969 near Fergus Falls and Ashby, MN. He and his wife went into mission work in 1969. They served in the mission field as house parents for mission children for fifteen years, serving overseas in Bolivia, Nepal and Liberia. Roland along with being a house father, also did carpenter work. They returned to the United States and worked with alcoholic women in Minneapolis and then spent four years on the Red Lake Indian Reservation at the Redby Lutheran Church. Even in retirement, Roland stayed active as they moved to Fergus Falls, then Battle Lake, and finally to New York Mills. Roland was employed by the Fergus Falls Children's Home and later the Battle Lake Public Schools as a custodian.
He enjoyed carpentry work, gardening - especially growing roses and raspberries, hunting and fishing.
Roland is survived by his wife: Lucille; sons: Robert (Terri) Newton, Pepperill, MA, William (Judith) Newton, Eagan, MN; and John (Lois) Newton, Champlin, MN; a daughter: Mary Newton, Plymouth, MN; a brother: Russell (Ruth) Newton, Iowa Falls, IA; 12 grandchildren; and 27 great-grandchildren.
ADVERTISEMENT
He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters: Thelma Whistler, Arlene Clifton, and Lois Newton; and brothers: Wendell, Melvin and LaVern; and 4 great grandchildren: Alexander, Hillary, Dylan and Brooklyn Newton.
