Walter Henry Diers, Sr. Rush City, MN
Longtime Rush City resident Walter Diers, Sr. 76, affectionately known as Mike, died on Sunday, Dec. 31, 2000 at Green Acres County Care Center in North Branch.
He was born in Isle on Nov. 20, 1924 and later moved to Chokio where he farmed with his family.
On Jan. 26, 1945, Mike married Betty Lou Adolphson at Clinton, MN.
He served in the U.S Army from 1946-48 and was stationed at Pusan, Korea. While there, he served at a field hospital as a mechanic, an ambulance driver and a medic.
Returning to civilian life in 1948, Mike began work with Farmers Union GTA and traveled throughout the Midwest building grain elevators.
The Diers family moved to Coon Rapids in 1952, and to Rush City in 1956, where Mike was employed as a millwright at Amber Mill. He was later promoted to assistant superintendent and then to superintendent. After serving 40 years with GTA and overseeing a major mill expansion project, Mike retired in 1988. However, he continued to work as a consultant until 1990.
Mike was very involved in community affairs, serving 12 years as mayor of Rush City and volunteering numerous hours at the airport there. He was a member and past commander of the VFW Post 6692 in Rush City, a member of St. John's Lutheran Church, where he volunteered countless hours and a Boy Scout leader for 23 years. He received the Silver Beaver award from the Boy Scouts and was chosen Rush City's Citizen of the Year.
In 1985, he was bestowed the honor he most cherished, the Lamb Award, given for distinguished service to youth and the church.
Mike's priorities were family, church and community. He was very gifted and could design and build everything from milling equipment to furniture, tractor accessories and houses. He enjoyed spending time with his family, camping, designing and building homes, gardening, being outdoors, woodworking, talking with friends at the Grant House, playing accordion and harmonica, traveling all 50 states and much of Europe and flying, having earned his private pilot's license.
Mike is survived by his wife, Betty, as well as his five children and their families, Carla Albergs, Excelsior, and her daughter, Sarah, Pam and Chris Carlson, Brooklyn Center, and children, Becky, Brian and Jeremy, Walter Diers, Jr. (Mick) and Shelly, Eden Prairie, and daughters, Anne and Kate, Donnette and Greg Wheelock, Mankato; David and Karen Diers, Woodbury, and children, Aaron, Talia, Mikayla and Kilian. He is also survived by his twin sister, Gertrude (Toots) and sisters, Vernie Goldsmith and Dorothy Swihart, brothers, Alvin (Ted) and Betty Diers, Melford and Joan Diers, and Melvin and Rowena Diers.
A memorial service was held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 4 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Rush City. Pastor Steve Scheff officiated.
Organist was Dick Scheele and soloist was Karen Diers.
Pine City Pioneer, Jan. 11, 2001
--------------------
Son of Herman John and Martha Emily (Pahl) Diers.
Longtime Rush City resident Walter Diers, Sr. 76, affectionately known as Mike, died on Sunday, Dec. 31, 2000 at Green Acres County Care Center in North Branch.
He was born in Isle on Nov. 20, 1924 and later moved to Chokio where he farmed with his family.
On Jan. 26, 1945, Mike married Betty Lou Adolphson at Clinton, MN.
He served in the U.S Army from 1946-48 and was stationed at Pusan, Korea. While there, he served at a field hospital as a mechanic, an ambulance driver and a medic.
Returning to civilian life in 1948, Mike began work with Farmers Union GTA and traveled throughout the Midwest building grain elevators.
The Diers family moved to Coon Rapids in 1952, and to Rush City in 1956, where Mike was employed as a millwright at Amber Mill. He was later promoted to assistant superintendent and then to superintendent. After serving 40 years with GTA and overseeing a major mill expansion project, Mike retired in 1988. However, he continued to work as a consultant until 1990.
Mike was very involved in community affairs, serving 12 years as mayor of Rush City and volunteering numerous hours at the airport there. He was a member and past commander of the VFW Post 6692 in Rush City, a member of St. John's Lutheran Church, where he volunteered countless hours and a Boy Scout leader for 23 years. He received the Silver Beaver award from the Boy Scouts and was chosen Rush City's Citizen of the Year.
In 1985, he was bestowed the honor he most cherished, the Lamb Award, given for distinguished service to youth and the church.
Mike's priorities were family, church and community. He was very gifted and could design and build everything from milling equipment to furniture, tractor accessories and houses. He enjoyed spending time with his family, camping, designing and building homes, gardening, being outdoors, woodworking, talking with friends at the Grant House, playing accordion and harmonica, traveling all 50 states and much of Europe and flying, having earned his private pilot's license.
Mike is survived by his wife, Betty, as well as his five children and their families, Carla Albergs, Excelsior, and her daughter, Sarah, Pam and Chris Carlson, Brooklyn Center, and children, Becky, Brian and Jeremy, Walter Diers, Jr. (Mick) and Shelly, Eden Prairie, and daughters, Anne and Kate, Donnette and Greg Wheelock, Mankato; David and Karen Diers, Woodbury, and children, Aaron, Talia, Mikayla and Kilian. He is also survived by his twin sister, Gertrude (Toots) and sisters, Vernie Goldsmith and Dorothy Swihart, brothers, Alvin (Ted) and Betty Diers, Melford and Joan Diers, and Melvin and Rowena Diers.
A memorial service was held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 4 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Rush City. Pastor Steve Scheff officiated.
Organist was Dick Scheele and soloist was Karen Diers.
Pine City Pioneer, Jan. 11, 2001
--------------------
Son of Herman John and Martha Emily (Pahl) Diers.
Walter Henry Diers, Sr. Rush City, MN
Longtime Rush City resident Walter Diers, Sr. 76, affectionately known as Mike, died on Sunday, Dec. 31, 2000 at Green Acres County Care Center in North Branch.
He was born in Isle on Nov. 20, 1924 and later moved to Chokio where he farmed with his family.
On Jan. 26, 1945, Mike married Betty Lou Adolphson at Clinton, MN.
He served in the U.S Army from 1946-48 and was stationed at Pusan, Korea. While there, he served at a field hospital as a mechanic, an ambulance driver and a medic.
Returning to civilian life in 1948, Mike began work with Farmers Union GTA and traveled throughout the Midwest building grain elevators.
The Diers family moved to Coon Rapids in 1952, and to Rush City in 1956, where Mike was employed as a millwright at Amber Mill. He was later promoted to assistant superintendent and then to superintendent. After serving 40 years with GTA and overseeing a major mill expansion project, Mike retired in 1988. However, he continued to work as a consultant until 1990.
Mike was very involved in community affairs, serving 12 years as mayor of Rush City and volunteering numerous hours at the airport there. He was a member and past commander of the VFW Post 6692 in Rush City, a member of St. John's Lutheran Church, where he volunteered countless hours and a Boy Scout leader for 23 years. He received the Silver Beaver award from the Boy Scouts and was chosen Rush City's Citizen of the Year.
In 1985, he was bestowed the honor he most cherished, the Lamb Award, given for distinguished service to youth and the church.
Mike's priorities were family, church and community. He was very gifted and could design and build everything from milling equipment to furniture, tractor accessories and houses. He enjoyed spending time with his family, camping, designing and building homes, gardening, being outdoors, woodworking, talking with friends at the Grant House, playing accordion and harmonica, traveling all 50 states and much of Europe and flying, having earned his private pilot's license.
Mike is survived by his wife, Betty, as well as his five children and their families, Carla Albergs, Excelsior, and her daughter, Sarah, Pam and Chris Carlson, Brooklyn Center, and children, Becky, Brian and Jeremy, Walter Diers, Jr. (Mick) and Shelly, Eden Prairie, and daughters, Anne and Kate, Donnette and Greg Wheelock, Mankato; David and Karen Diers, Woodbury, and children, Aaron, Talia, Mikayla and Kilian. He is also survived by his twin sister, Gertrude (Toots) and sisters, Vernie Goldsmith and Dorothy Swihart, brothers, Alvin (Ted) and Betty Diers, Melford and Joan Diers, and Melvin and Rowena Diers.
A memorial service was held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 4 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Rush City. Pastor Steve Scheff officiated.
Organist was Dick Scheele and soloist was Karen Diers.
Pine City Pioneer, Jan. 11, 2001
--------------------
Son of Herman John and Martha Emily (Pahl) Diers.
Longtime Rush City resident Walter Diers, Sr. 76, affectionately known as Mike, died on Sunday, Dec. 31, 2000 at Green Acres County Care Center in North Branch.
He was born in Isle on Nov. 20, 1924 and later moved to Chokio where he farmed with his family.
On Jan. 26, 1945, Mike married Betty Lou Adolphson at Clinton, MN.
He served in the U.S Army from 1946-48 and was stationed at Pusan, Korea. While there, he served at a field hospital as a mechanic, an ambulance driver and a medic.
Returning to civilian life in 1948, Mike began work with Farmers Union GTA and traveled throughout the Midwest building grain elevators.
The Diers family moved to Coon Rapids in 1952, and to Rush City in 1956, where Mike was employed as a millwright at Amber Mill. He was later promoted to assistant superintendent and then to superintendent. After serving 40 years with GTA and overseeing a major mill expansion project, Mike retired in 1988. However, he continued to work as a consultant until 1990.
Mike was very involved in community affairs, serving 12 years as mayor of Rush City and volunteering numerous hours at the airport there. He was a member and past commander of the VFW Post 6692 in Rush City, a member of St. John's Lutheran Church, where he volunteered countless hours and a Boy Scout leader for 23 years. He received the Silver Beaver award from the Boy Scouts and was chosen Rush City's Citizen of the Year.
In 1985, he was bestowed the honor he most cherished, the Lamb Award, given for distinguished service to youth and the church.
Mike's priorities were family, church and community. He was very gifted and could design and build everything from milling equipment to furniture, tractor accessories and houses. He enjoyed spending time with his family, camping, designing and building homes, gardening, being outdoors, woodworking, talking with friends at the Grant House, playing accordion and harmonica, traveling all 50 states and much of Europe and flying, having earned his private pilot's license.
Mike is survived by his wife, Betty, as well as his five children and their families, Carla Albergs, Excelsior, and her daughter, Sarah, Pam and Chris Carlson, Brooklyn Center, and children, Becky, Brian and Jeremy, Walter Diers, Jr. (Mick) and Shelly, Eden Prairie, and daughters, Anne and Kate, Donnette and Greg Wheelock, Mankato; David and Karen Diers, Woodbury, and children, Aaron, Talia, Mikayla and Kilian. He is also survived by his twin sister, Gertrude (Toots) and sisters, Vernie Goldsmith and Dorothy Swihart, brothers, Alvin (Ted) and Betty Diers, Melford and Joan Diers, and Melvin and Rowena Diers.
A memorial service was held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 4 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Rush City. Pastor Steve Scheff officiated.
Organist was Dick Scheele and soloist was Karen Diers.
Pine City Pioneer, Jan. 11, 2001
--------------------
Son of Herman John and Martha Emily (Pahl) Diers.
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