Calvin Cardin Loken

On August 9, 2026, Calvin Cardin Loken, age 86, beloved husband, dad and grandpa, passed from the arms of his family into the embrace of his Lord and Savior.

Born July 6, 1940, he grew up a child of the North Dakota prairie and duck sloughs, the only son of Gilbert and Agnes Loken on the Nelson County farm that his Norwegian grandparents homesteaded. His destiny as a farmer seemed predetermined, but his curiosity and love of science lured him first to NDSU, then to service in the military, back to NDSU for grad school and finally to medical school and a career in radiology.

He met his wife, Amy Carol Leake, at the NDSU Animal Science Department lab, where she had a work-study job and he was a grad student. He walked in the lab where he found her cooking her evening meal with a Bunsen burner placed under a piece of tin foil held up by a lab ring stand. He would tell you that her “culinary skills” were just one of the many things that fascinated him about her.

They were married the following year, June 1,1969 and began the adventure of his medical training. That took them from UND, to the U of MN, to St Mary’s Hospital in Duluth and finally to West Virginia University. Amy would say that she never had to defrost the refrigerator, because they moved 10 times in those 8 years. The end of that family journey brought them and their two children back to Duluth in 1977, where Cal joined Radiology Associates at St Luke’s Hospital.

Cal always felt fortunate to live at a time of great change and innovation in the field of radiology. He found science endlessly fascinating and amassed a library of books and articles on physics, medicine, mathematics and space. A dedicated learner, Cal was passionate about caring for the earth and the threat of climate change. He often said that his love of science only strengthened his faith life.

After retirement, the Good Shepherd men’s bible study stepped in to ease the loss of Cal’s work-life and the companionship of his radiology co-workers. These lovely men brought him the joy and stimulation of great discussion, laughter, fun and deep friendship- they were and are “the church made real” for him.

What Cal was most proud of was his 3 children; Christopher Cardin Loken, Michelle Marie Loken Price, Peter Benjamin Loken and “bonus” AFS daughter, Megan Dewet. He described each of them as full of kindness, generosity, wisdom, good works and his best gift to the world.

He and Amy were blessed with 8 fabulous grandchildren-all perfectly made and perfectly wonderful in their eyes.

Cal was predeceased by his parents, Gilbert and Agnes and many cousins. He is survived by his wife, Amy; his sons, Christopher (Jill Symanski), Peter (Megan Nevitt Loken); and daughter, Michelle (Kendall Price); his grandchildren, Aarikka Loken, William Loken, Evelyn Price, Charles Price, Zora Price, Scarlett Loken, Harper Loken and Ila Loken. His cat Fritz, comforter and entertainer, already misses him.

The family would like to extend thanks to the VA ALS clinic, the staff at Essentia ALS clinic, and the medical staff and hospice staff at Aspirus St Lukes. We wish to thank our extended family, our church family, friends, neighbors and especially each of the home health-care aids who made it possible for Cal to remain at home, made him smile, distracted him from his pain and made his struggle with ALS bearable until the last few days of his life.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to your favorite charity. Some of Cal’s were: LCGS earmarked for the ELCA World Hunger Appeal, Safe Haven, The Damiano Center and Second Harvest Northland.

A Visitation will be held from 5-7pm on Friday, August 28, 2026 at the Dougherty Funeral Home, 600 E. Second Street, Duluth. The Visitation will continue on Saturday from 9:30am until the 10:30am Memorial Service at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, 1325 N 45th Ave E, Duluth. Burial with Military Honors will take place at Forest Hill Cemetery.

Arrangements by Dougherty Funeral Home, 218-727-3555.