Plainview resident Merlin Ordell Bratberg died on September 14, 2026, from complications of pulmonary fibrosis at Methodist Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota, at the age of 85.
Born at home on September 25, 1940, to Melvin and Norma (Gravos) Bratberg in Rushford, Minnesota, Merlin was later baptized on October 20, 1940, at Rushford Lutheran Church. He grew up on the family farm in the Rushford area and was confirmed at Highland Prairie Lutheran Church on May 15, 1955. In his youth, Merlin was active in both 4-H and FFA, graduated from Rushford High School in 1958, and remained close with his high school classmates for the rest of his life.
He was first employed at St. Marys Hospital’s dietary department from 1958 to 1960. Merlin became a newspaper printer at the Tri-County Record in Rushford from 1960 to 1965, and spent the rest of his career at Mack Publishing/Interstate Publications in Plainview and Wabasha until his retirement in 2006.
He sold advertising, ran the newspaper press and also did commercial printing. During this time, Merlin also served in the Minnesota Air National Guard from 1963 to 1969, and rose to the rank of staff sergeant.
On July 2, 1966, Merlin married Ellen Skibbe at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Stewartville, Minnesota, and they were blessed with three sons: Steven, Scott and Jeffrey.
Throughout his life, he was known for his integrity and served as treasurer for 4-H, Jaycees, Plainview Lions Club and the Plainview-Elgin Sanitary Sewer Board. In addition, Merlin served on the Plainview Planning and Zoning Committee, as well as 10 years on the Plainview City Council. His community service extended to serving as an election judge, driving for Meals on Wheels and participating on the board of the Plainview Area Foundation.
He was a longtime member and former elder of Immanuel Lutheran Church, and he enjoyed trout fishing, downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, boating, woodworking and visiting with the morning and afternoon coffee groups.
Merlin was preceded in death by his wife Ellen, his parents, his mother- and father-in-law Olivia and Marvin Skibbe, his sister Betty Olness, his brother-in-law Arland Olness, as well as his brother-in-law Gerald Warnken.
He is survived by sons Steven (Trisha Ferguson) of Royal Oak, Michigan; Scott (Sarah Hanley) of Maple Grove, Minnesota; and Jeffrey (Patty Bratberg) of Attleboro, Massachusetts, as well as five grandchildren: William “Gabriel” Bratberg, Kathryn Bratberg, Nicholas Bratberg, Luke Hanley-Bratberg and Eve Hanley-Bratberg. In addition, Merlin is survived by sister-in-law Dorothy Warnken, sister- and brother-in-law Martha and Don Pogalz, as well as multiple nieces and nephews.
The funeral service will be on Wednesday, November 25, 2026, at 11 a.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Plainview, Minnesota, with the Rev. Larry Sipe officiating. The visitation will be an hour before the service. A private interment will take place at Highland Prairie Cemetery in rural Peterson, Minnesota. Merlin’s family prefers that memorials to be directed to Immanuel Lutheran Church.
Schad and Zabel Funeral Home in Plainview is assisting with the arrangements.
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