Verlin DeGroat

Verlin M. DeGroat, 79, Detroit Lakes, died Monday, April 22 at Essentia Health in Fargo, ND.

Memorial Services will be held Thursday, May 2 at 2pm in Christian Fellowship Church, Detroit Lakes.  Visitation will be held Wednesday, May 1 at David Donehower Funeral Home from 5pm-7pm with a 6:30pm Prayer Service.  Visitation will also continue Thursday at the church one hour prior.

Verlin Michael DeGroat was born November 23, 1939 in White Earth, MN to Michael and Laura (Bellecourt) DeGroat.   He grew up in the Callaway and Strawberry Lake areas attending country school in Strawberry Lake and later High School in Waubun.   After school he worked for various farms which ranged from dairy, pigs and turkeys.   Verlin was united in marriage to Sharon Blauert and to this union were five children.   Verlin worked as a chef for the Job Corp at the Tamarac Job Corp Center.   At the age of 40, Verlin suffered a stroke which cased partial paralysis in one arm.   Verlin kept a positive attitude, continuing to work with his son Curt hauling and cutting firewood.   Verlin lived a life centered with Christ.  One of his ministries was calling on the sick, and playing his guitar at Nursing Homes throughout the area.  You would often hear him say “Nothings too big for God”.   On April 9, 1996, Verlin was united in marriage to Rita Kunz at The Church of the Nazarene in Detroit Lakes.  Verlin enjoyed watching the Christian TV channel along with the professional sports.  His favorite teams were the Twins and Vikings.   He loved tending to his garden in the summer, reading and watching wildlife.

Verlin will be remembered and missed by his wife Rita DeGroat, his five children:  Curt DeGroat, Lynette DeGroat, Paulette Viste, Paula Birkeland and Candace Damio along with four step-children:  Chris Kunz, Nick Heimark, Melissa Heimark and Jena (Danny) Carkhuff.  He is also survived by 9 grandchildren and two step-grandchildren, three sisters:  Shirley (Mel) Manning, Doll (Marvin) Blauert and Donna Krause and one brother:  Jim (Darlene) DeGroat.

He is preceded in death by his parents, one infant son, Keith DeGroat and grandparents: Joe and Myrtle Bellecourt.