05/24/2026
CASUALTIES OF THE KOREAN WAR
LAVERN EDWARD MAPLE, AGE 25
Lavern Edward Maple was born to Martin and Nora Maple in Eddy Township, Clearwater County on November 24, 1926. He attended Clearbrook schools and after graduation worked for a time at the Clearbrook Cooperative Creamery. He was confirmed at the First Lutheran Church in Clearbrook in June, 1943. He loved baseball. He was inducted into the Army on September 19, 1950 as part of the stepped-up draft and only a few short months later was killed in action in South Korea on May 18, 1951. He was survived by his parents, two sisters, Marlene and Joyce, and two brothers, Norris and Richard. Lavern is buried in Silver Creek Cemetery near Clearbrook.
KENNETH LYLE OLSON, AGE 22
Kenneth Olson was born to Ludvig and Lily Olson of rural Shevlin on July 2, 1929. He attended school at Shevlin and was a member of the Lutheran church. On October 26, 1950, he married Darlene Christianson of Bagley and they had a son, Kenneth Lyle, who was born five months after Kenneth was reported missing. Kenneth enlisted in the Army on April 17, 1950 and served at Fort Ord, California for 17 months before going to Korea on October 11, 1951. Kenneth was trained as a sniper. He was listed as missing in action on January 12, 1952 but not legally declared dead until January 14, 1954. Kenneth was survived by his parents, brothers Reuben, Roy, Clayton, Cecil, Vernon and Dennis and sister Florence. DNA samples have been taken from a member of Kenneth’s family in the hopes that remains found in Korea may someday be identified. DONALD LUVERNE MONSON, AGE 22
Donald Luverne Monson was born to Knute M. and Mabel Monson near Benson, Minnesota on December 12, 1929. He was baptized in West Norway Lake church near Sundberg. He was confirmed at the First Lutheran Church in Clearbrook. He married Malvina Kittelson of Park River, North Dakota on January 12, 1952, shortly after which he entered military training at Fort Riley, Kansas. He left for Japan in August of 1952 and landed in Korea on September 9. He was wounded in action on September 26, 1952 and died of his wounds on October 2, 1952. He was survived by his father and stepmother, his wife Malvina, brothers Joel, Emmanuel, Arnold and Harold, sisters Irene, Margaret, Mavis and Darlene, and stepbrothers Robert and Clayton Laager. Donald is buried in West Norway Lake Cemetery, Kandiyohi County, Minnesota.
RICHARD “DARREL” BERGLAND, AGE 20
Richard Darrel Bergland was born to parents Leonard and Dorothy Bergland on December 6, 1930 at Clearbrook. He spent his entire short life in Clearbrook. He worked at McReynolds Honey Farms during vacations and in his spare time. He was a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Clearbrook. He spent as much time as he could out of doors and was known as an expert trout fisherman and fly-tier. He loved trapping, hunting and was an expert rifleman as well as archer. He graduated from Clearbrook High School in 1948. Richard, a light weapons infantryman, was killed in action on January 11, 1951 in South Korea. He was survived by his father, Leonard T. Bergland, a rural mail carrier at Clearbrook, sisters Elaine and Gloria and brother Robert. Richard is buried in Silver Creek Cemetery near Clearbrook.
KENNETH LYLE SUTHERLAND, AGE 36
Kenneth Lyle Sutherland was born May 25, 1914 at Petersburg, Nebraska to Eugene and Maude McIntyre Sutherland. He attended elementary and high school in Petersburg. The Sutherland family moved to Bagley in the late 1930’s and farmed in Nora Township. Kenneth enlisted in the Army on January 2, 1941 and saw action at the initial landing on the Salerno and Anzio beachhead during WWII. He was discharged in November of 1945, after which he farmed near Bagley before re-enlisting in January of 1948. Kenneth married Delores Burgard on May 24, 1944 at St. Paul. He was killed in action while moving his troops forward against the enemy near Kwang Daeso, South Korea on March 31, 1951, when his jeep struck an enemy land mine. He was survived by his father Eugene and sisters Shirley, Eva Jean, and Janice, his wife Delores and daughters Judith and Susan. He is buried in Saint Joseph Cemetery, Bagley.
KENNETH TED VANNETT, AGE 19
Kenneth Ted Vannett was born December 3, 1931 in Rice Township, Clearwater County, Minnesota to Clarence and Signe Vannett. The family moved to Shevlin in 1939 until the spring of 1946 when they moved to Harland. The family moved to Albert Lea in the fall of 1946 and lived there until the time Kenneth enlisted. He was a Boy Scout and gave assistance to the Kenny polio drive. Kenneth enlisted in the Army at Albert Lea in August, 1949 and was sent to Japan in February of 1950. He died of wounds received in action at Tuman-Ri on July 16, 1950. He was described as having a very sunny disposition and friendly. Kenneth was survived by his mother, Signe Otterkill Vannett Solberg, stepfather John O. Solberg, brother s Delbert, Marvin and sister Sharon Ruth Vannett Knutson, step brothers John Solberg Jr., Howard and Kenneth Solberg, and step-sister Marian Solberg Oien. Kenneth is buried in Rice Free Lutheran Cemetery in Zerkel.
