Gary Honrud

Gary Honrud, 77, of rural Erhard, passed away Thursday, February 18, 2021 at Lake Region Healthcare in Fergus Falls.

Gary Lee Honrud was born September 16, 1943 at St. Francis Hospital in Breckenridge, Minnesota to Bennie and Ruth (Peterson) Honrud.

Bennie and Ruth made their home on a farm west of Erhard. Gary attended school at District 278. He graduated from Pelican Rapids High School in 1962. He continued on for one year of community college and did a brief service with the National Guard.

Gary was employed with the Fargo Foundry for five years, from 1965 to 1970. He then worked at the Ord Corp. in Pelican Rapids before embarking on a long career with M&R Sign in Fergus Falls. He retired in 2005 after 34 years and hundreds of road signs.

Gary was a confirmed bachelor, living on the farm with his mother and younger brother Tim. In his youthful days, he enjoyed a little bit of informal drag racing on the roads around Erhard and racing up and over the hills on a snowmobile in the winters.

He spent his free time bringing old gas engines to life and sharing that skill with many years of attendance at Rollag and Dalton. He also collected and restored toy tractors.

Gary was member of the Fergus Falls Classic Car Club. While he always had an appreciation for modern classics, his pride and joy was a Ford Model A. Starting with a shell of a car, Gary hunted down parts and pieces until he had rebuilt it to completion and for many years, it was a constant presence at many an Erhard 4th of July parade.

He enjoyed working with wood and made fish decoys and canes. After he retired, he was a loyal member of the Pelican Rapids Pool Hall gang. He was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Erhard.

In this last year of isolation because of the pandemic, he was especially grateful for the friends that delivered food and stopped to visit. Special thanks to Ye Olde School House and Louie and Sumo for bringing out his special Tuesday delight of potato klub.

Gary was preceded in death by his father Bennie, his mother Ruth, his brother Timothy, nephew Steve Honrud and great nephew Jayme Honrud. He is survived by his brother Michael (Cyrilla Grover), Steve Honrud’s widow Tonya Honrud, great nephews Tyler, Michael, and Ben, and great-niece Brittany Honrud Colbert (Jeremiah) and many cousins.

Memorials are preferred to Grace Lutheran Church in Erhard, MN. 726 Fergus Ave Erhard, MN 56534

Service: 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 24, 2021, at Grace Lutheran in Erhard, MN. There will be visitation one-hour prior to the service at the church.
Clergy: Reverend Brad Soenksen
Interment: Hamar Cemetery, Rothsay, MN

Arrangements are provided by the Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls.
Online condolences may be sent to www.olsonfuneralhome.com