Merlyn George Tonga, 80, of Kenyon, died unexpectedly on Sunday, May 26, 2013 at his home in Kenyon. Merlyn was born June 15, 1932, in Brookfield Township near Northwood, IA to Knut and Bernice (Bjerke Blackford) Tonga. He was baptized and confirmed at Bristol Lutheran Church near Joice, IA. He attended country school near his home and graduated from 8th grade. Merlyn entered the work force at the age of 14. He worked on the farm, followed the wheat harvest from North Dakota to Texas, worked for John Deere in Waterloo, IA, and several other learning opportunities. During one of these opportunities, he met a young beautiful redhead in Minneapolis, Lucy Brockman. On July 8th, 1951, he was united in marriage to Lucy at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa and the couple made their home on the family farm near Northwood. He raised beef cattle, farmed with his cousin Elmer Blegeberg, drove semi over the road, ran heavy equipment and worked at the sugar beet plant in Mason City, IA. He was active at Bristol Lutheran Church. In 1967, Merlyn and the family moved to farm near Kenyon, Minnesota and continued to raise beef cows and dairy cows, and work construction. He became an active member at Hauge Lutheran Church and was a charter member of the Sons of Norway. In 1981, after surviving a dairy bull attack, Merlyn and Lucy took a step to follow their dream of owning a resort and purchased Tonga's Launch Service in Federal Dam, Minnesota on Leech Lake. In 2009, Merlyn and Lucy retired and returned to Kenyon. Merlyn could fix or build anything, from bathrooms to diesel engines; from living room lamps to wiring a pole barn. There was always room for one more at his table, his home, and his heart. He and Lucy loved to travel. They took numerous trips in their campers, vans and fifth wheel trailers to visit family in Montana, Alaska, Colorado, California, and Nevada. They wintered in Arizona, Florida and later settled in the valley in Texas, where they enjoyed the 'busy' life of retirement, warm weather, good friends, fresh fruit and visiting Mexico. Merlyn was a member of the Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Association where he operated the steam powered carousel for 20 years. He and Lucy enjoyed many hours on rides, at swap meets and picnics with other enthusiasts as members of the T-Totaler - Model "T" car club. In the last few years, Merlyn has restored two Ford Model 'T's and a Ford Model A. Merlyn is survived by his children, Michael (Heather) of Homer, AK, Rebecca (Fred) Peterson of Kenyon, MN, Cynthia (Bob) Rooley of Pahrump, NV, Julie (William)Tackett of Fallon, NV, Tim of Federal Dam, MN, Sandra (Glenn) Toyne of Sedgewick, CO, Dan (Darcy) of Federal Dam, MN, Mary (Gary) Barrett of Wadena, MN; special friend, Clare Gallagher, Zimmerman MN; 22 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; three sisters; two step-sisters; three brothers; many nieces, nephews and dear friends. Merlyn was preceded in death by his wife, Lucy in 2010; parents; granddaughter, Nicole Rooley; brother, Clifford Tonga; sisters, Shallie Buntrock, Geraldine Cushman. Visitation will be at Michaelson Funeral Home, Kenyon on Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. and at Hauge Lutheran Church on Saturday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Funeral services will be held June 1, 2013 at 10:30 a.m. at Hauge Lutheran Church with The Reverend Martin Horn officiating. Interment will be in the Lakewood Cemetery Chapel in Minneapolis. Visitation: 05/31/2013 16:00 05/31/2013 19:00 Service: and one hour before the church service 06/01/2013 10:30