Alton Mark Oliver Broten, 88, of Henning and Elk Grove Village, Ill., died on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009, following a courageous battle with prostate cancer.
A proud native of Hudson, Wis., he was born on Aug. 21, 1921, to Gilbert and Ellen (Peterson) Broten. He was baptized and confirmed at Bethel Lutheran Church in Hudson. He postponed college for a year to work at Hellwig's grocery store and as a reporter for the Hudson Star Observer.
Alton attended the River Falls State Teachers College, where he was elected class officer and was an active member of the newspaper staff. He lived in St. Cloud, where he worked at the A&P and as a reporter for the St. Cloud Daily Times. In March 1942, Alton enlisted in the U.S. Navy and attended basic training at the Great Lakes Naval Base in Illinois. He attended midshipman's school at the University of Notre Dame, was commissioned as an Ensign at Fort Schuyler, N.Y., and served on the destroyer escort U.S.S. William C. Cole in the South Pacific.
Upon discharge from the Navy in 1946, he worked as a teacher at the Kinderheim in Addison, Ill., an orphanage operated by Lutheran Child and Family Services. He went on to complete his bachelor's degree at Valparaiso University, where he was an editor and columnist for the school newspaper. After graduation in 1949, he went on to the School of Social Service Administration, University of Chicago where he received his Masters degree in 1950. Alton served as program director at Chapin Hall Children's Home in Chicago. He went back to Lutheran Child and Family Services as Director of Residence.
At a speaking engagement at Valparaiso University in 1953, Alton met his future wife, Jane Albright, a sociology student from Henning. They were married on Oct. 10, 1954. Between 1956 and 1960 Alton held a position at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, as associate director of an innovative new program, the Group Child Care Project. He traveled throughout the Southeast states, bringing social work standards to large childcare institutions and orphanages.
In 1961, Alton returned to Chicago to become Executive Director of Mary Bartelme Homes, a position he would hold until retirement in 1986. During his tenure, the agency grew from two group homes to 10, and added an independent living program serving adolescent children. From 1986 to 2007, Alton continued as a consultant in social services, working primarily with Lutheran Child and Family Services in River Forest, Ill., Catholic Charities in Gary, Ind., and the Chicago office of the National Association of Social Workers. During his long career in the Chicago area he became a leader in the formation of programs and coalitions aimed at better serving children who needed to live in residential programs.
He taught classes at the Jane Addams School of Social Work. He authored numerous publications for house parent training and championed the work of direct care staff. As a resident of Elk Grove Village since 1961, Alton was instrumental in the village's early efforts to develop community services, and served as an original member of the Community Services board for many years.
He was a longtime member of Holy Spirit Lutheran Church in Elk Grove Village.
Alton is survived by his wife of 55 years, Jane (nee Albright); his children: Thomas (Kathryn) of Redondo Beach, Calif., Michael (Julie) of Honolulu, Hawaii, William (Sarah) of Frisco, Colo., Daniel of Chicago, Ill., and Henning, and Nancy (Robert) Broten- Munson of Elk Grove Village, Ill; grandchildren: Laurel Broten, Kevin Broten, Mark Munson, and Luke Munson; and many adoring sisters- and brothers-in-law, nieces and nephews, friends and neighbors.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Audrey Bjorke.
Memorials may be made to Lutheran Child and Family Services, River Forest, IL at www.lcfs.org.
Funeral services were scheduled for today (Friday, Nov. 13) at the Vining Lutheran Church with the Rev. Dick Kennedy officiating. www.belmontfuneral.com
Published in the Fergus Falls Daily Journal - November 13, 2009
A proud native of Hudson, Wis., he was born on Aug. 21, 1921, to Gilbert and Ellen (Peterson) Broten. He was baptized and confirmed at Bethel Lutheran Church in Hudson. He postponed college for a year to work at Hellwig's grocery store and as a reporter for the Hudson Star Observer.
Alton attended the River Falls State Teachers College, where he was elected class officer and was an active member of the newspaper staff. He lived in St. Cloud, where he worked at the A&P and as a reporter for the St. Cloud Daily Times. In March 1942, Alton enlisted in the U.S. Navy and attended basic training at the Great Lakes Naval Base in Illinois. He attended midshipman's school at the University of Notre Dame, was commissioned as an Ensign at Fort Schuyler, N.Y., and served on the destroyer escort U.S.S. William C. Cole in the South Pacific.
Upon discharge from the Navy in 1946, he worked as a teacher at the Kinderheim in Addison, Ill., an orphanage operated by Lutheran Child and Family Services. He went on to complete his bachelor's degree at Valparaiso University, where he was an editor and columnist for the school newspaper. After graduation in 1949, he went on to the School of Social Service Administration, University of Chicago where he received his Masters degree in 1950. Alton served as program director at Chapin Hall Children's Home in Chicago. He went back to Lutheran Child and Family Services as Director of Residence.
At a speaking engagement at Valparaiso University in 1953, Alton met his future wife, Jane Albright, a sociology student from Henning. They were married on Oct. 10, 1954. Between 1956 and 1960 Alton held a position at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, as associate director of an innovative new program, the Group Child Care Project. He traveled throughout the Southeast states, bringing social work standards to large childcare institutions and orphanages.
In 1961, Alton returned to Chicago to become Executive Director of Mary Bartelme Homes, a position he would hold until retirement in 1986. During his tenure, the agency grew from two group homes to 10, and added an independent living program serving adolescent children. From 1986 to 2007, Alton continued as a consultant in social services, working primarily with Lutheran Child and Family Services in River Forest, Ill., Catholic Charities in Gary, Ind., and the Chicago office of the National Association of Social Workers. During his long career in the Chicago area he became a leader in the formation of programs and coalitions aimed at better serving children who needed to live in residential programs.
He taught classes at the Jane Addams School of Social Work. He authored numerous publications for house parent training and championed the work of direct care staff. As a resident of Elk Grove Village since 1961, Alton was instrumental in the village's early efforts to develop community services, and served as an original member of the Community Services board for many years.
He was a longtime member of Holy Spirit Lutheran Church in Elk Grove Village.
Alton is survived by his wife of 55 years, Jane (nee Albright); his children: Thomas (Kathryn) of Redondo Beach, Calif., Michael (Julie) of Honolulu, Hawaii, William (Sarah) of Frisco, Colo., Daniel of Chicago, Ill., and Henning, and Nancy (Robert) Broten- Munson of Elk Grove Village, Ill; grandchildren: Laurel Broten, Kevin Broten, Mark Munson, and Luke Munson; and many adoring sisters- and brothers-in-law, nieces and nephews, friends and neighbors.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Audrey Bjorke.
Memorials may be made to Lutheran Child and Family Services, River Forest, IL at www.lcfs.org.
Funeral services were scheduled for today (Friday, Nov. 13) at the Vining Lutheran Church with the Rev. Dick Kennedy officiating. www.belmontfuneral.com
Published in the Fergus Falls Daily Journal - November 13, 2009
Alton Mark Oliver Broten, 88, of Henning and Elk Grove Village, Ill., died on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009, following a courageous battle with prostate cancer.
A proud native of Hudson, Wis., he was born on Aug. 21, 1921, to Gilbert and Ellen (Peterson) Broten. He was baptized and confirmed at Bethel Lutheran Church in Hudson. He postponed college for a year to work at Hellwig's grocery store and as a reporter for the Hudson Star Observer.
Alton attended the River Falls State Teachers College, where he was elected class officer and was an active member of the newspaper staff. He lived in St. Cloud, where he worked at the A&P and as a reporter for the St. Cloud Daily Times. In March 1942, Alton enlisted in the U.S. Navy and attended basic training at the Great Lakes Naval Base in Illinois. He attended midshipman's school at the University of Notre Dame, was commissioned as an Ensign at Fort Schuyler, N.Y., and served on the destroyer escort U.S.S. William C. Cole in the South Pacific.
Upon discharge from the Navy in 1946, he worked as a teacher at the Kinderheim in Addison, Ill., an orphanage operated by Lutheran Child and Family Services. He went on to complete his bachelor's degree at Valparaiso University, where he was an editor and columnist for the school newspaper. After graduation in 1949, he went on to the School of Social Service Administration, University of Chicago where he received his Masters degree in 1950. Alton served as program director at Chapin Hall Children's Home in Chicago. He went back to Lutheran Child and Family Services as Director of Residence.
At a speaking engagement at Valparaiso University in 1953, Alton met his future wife, Jane Albright, a sociology student from Henning. They were married on Oct. 10, 1954. Between 1956 and 1960 Alton held a position at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, as associate director of an innovative new program, the Group Child Care Project. He traveled throughout the Southeast states, bringing social work standards to large childcare institutions and orphanages.
In 1961, Alton returned to Chicago to become Executive Director of Mary Bartelme Homes, a position he would hold until retirement in 1986. During his tenure, the agency grew from two group homes to 10, and added an independent living program serving adolescent children. From 1986 to 2007, Alton continued as a consultant in social services, working primarily with Lutheran Child and Family Services in River Forest, Ill., Catholic Charities in Gary, Ind., and the Chicago office of the National Association of Social Workers. During his long career in the Chicago area he became a leader in the formation of programs and coalitions aimed at better serving children who needed to live in residential programs.
He taught classes at the Jane Addams School of Social Work. He authored numerous publications for house parent training and championed the work of direct care staff. As a resident of Elk Grove Village since 1961, Alton was instrumental in the village's early efforts to develop community services, and served as an original member of the Community Services board for many years.
He was a longtime member of Holy Spirit Lutheran Church in Elk Grove Village.
Alton is survived by his wife of 55 years, Jane (nee Albright); his children: Thomas (Kathryn) of Redondo Beach, Calif., Michael (Julie) of Honolulu, Hawaii, William (Sarah) of Frisco, Colo., Daniel of Chicago, Ill., and Henning, and Nancy (Robert) Broten- Munson of Elk Grove Village, Ill; grandchildren: Laurel Broten, Kevin Broten, Mark Munson, and Luke Munson; and many adoring sisters- and brothers-in-law, nieces and nephews, friends and neighbors.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Audrey Bjorke.
Memorials may be made to Lutheran Child and Family Services, River Forest, IL at www.lcfs.org.
Funeral services were scheduled for today (Friday, Nov. 13) at the Vining Lutheran Church with the Rev. Dick Kennedy officiating. www.belmontfuneral.com
Published in the Fergus Falls Daily Journal - November 13, 2009
A proud native of Hudson, Wis., he was born on Aug. 21, 1921, to Gilbert and Ellen (Peterson) Broten. He was baptized and confirmed at Bethel Lutheran Church in Hudson. He postponed college for a year to work at Hellwig's grocery store and as a reporter for the Hudson Star Observer.
Alton attended the River Falls State Teachers College, where he was elected class officer and was an active member of the newspaper staff. He lived in St. Cloud, where he worked at the A&P and as a reporter for the St. Cloud Daily Times. In March 1942, Alton enlisted in the U.S. Navy and attended basic training at the Great Lakes Naval Base in Illinois. He attended midshipman's school at the University of Notre Dame, was commissioned as an Ensign at Fort Schuyler, N.Y., and served on the destroyer escort U.S.S. William C. Cole in the South Pacific.
Upon discharge from the Navy in 1946, he worked as a teacher at the Kinderheim in Addison, Ill., an orphanage operated by Lutheran Child and Family Services. He went on to complete his bachelor's degree at Valparaiso University, where he was an editor and columnist for the school newspaper. After graduation in 1949, he went on to the School of Social Service Administration, University of Chicago where he received his Masters degree in 1950. Alton served as program director at Chapin Hall Children's Home in Chicago. He went back to Lutheran Child and Family Services as Director of Residence.
At a speaking engagement at Valparaiso University in 1953, Alton met his future wife, Jane Albright, a sociology student from Henning. They were married on Oct. 10, 1954. Between 1956 and 1960 Alton held a position at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, as associate director of an innovative new program, the Group Child Care Project. He traveled throughout the Southeast states, bringing social work standards to large childcare institutions and orphanages.
In 1961, Alton returned to Chicago to become Executive Director of Mary Bartelme Homes, a position he would hold until retirement in 1986. During his tenure, the agency grew from two group homes to 10, and added an independent living program serving adolescent children. From 1986 to 2007, Alton continued as a consultant in social services, working primarily with Lutheran Child and Family Services in River Forest, Ill., Catholic Charities in Gary, Ind., and the Chicago office of the National Association of Social Workers. During his long career in the Chicago area he became a leader in the formation of programs and coalitions aimed at better serving children who needed to live in residential programs.
He taught classes at the Jane Addams School of Social Work. He authored numerous publications for house parent training and championed the work of direct care staff. As a resident of Elk Grove Village since 1961, Alton was instrumental in the village's early efforts to develop community services, and served as an original member of the Community Services board for many years.
He was a longtime member of Holy Spirit Lutheran Church in Elk Grove Village.
Alton is survived by his wife of 55 years, Jane (nee Albright); his children: Thomas (Kathryn) of Redondo Beach, Calif., Michael (Julie) of Honolulu, Hawaii, William (Sarah) of Frisco, Colo., Daniel of Chicago, Ill., and Henning, and Nancy (Robert) Broten- Munson of Elk Grove Village, Ill; grandchildren: Laurel Broten, Kevin Broten, Mark Munson, and Luke Munson; and many adoring sisters- and brothers-in-law, nieces and nephews, friends and neighbors.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Audrey Bjorke.
Memorials may be made to Lutheran Child and Family Services, River Forest, IL at www.lcfs.org.
Funeral services were scheduled for today (Friday, Nov. 13) at the Vining Lutheran Church with the Rev. Dick Kennedy officiating. www.belmontfuneral.com
Published in the Fergus Falls Daily Journal - November 13, 2009
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