Jerry D. Hess

Jerry D. Hess 76, a resident of Fergus Falls, MN lost his battle with Amyloidosis, on January 16, 2014 at Lake Region Health Care, surrounded by his family; from the hands of his girls to the arms of Jesus.

He was born January 18, 1937 at Wheaton, MN, the son of Nick and Gladys (Hald) Hess. He grew up on a farm in rural Browns Valley, MN. He accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior and served Him daily. He graduated from Browns Valley High School in 1955 participating in several sports. In 1959 he graduated from Northern State University in Aberdeen, SD with a BS in Health and Physical Education. On May 29th, 1960 he married the love of his life, Darlys Karlen, at Columbia, SD. In May of 1962 he graduated from South Dakota State University with a MS in Health and Physical Education. After graduation he earned an additional 45 post graduate credits in various universities across the country.

As an Educator and Coach he spent two years at Redfield, SD, one year at Aberdeen, SD, and six years at Benson, MN before settling in Fergus Falls, MN. He taught Health, Physical Education, and Outdoor Recreation at the Fergus Falls Community College for 26 years. During that time he started and coached the football program and coached wrestling, and track. He developed and taught the Outdoor Recreation curriculum which included taking students to the BWCA for 25 years; backpacking in the Black Hills, winter camping and led alpine ski trips to Montana for 15 years. In 1998 he was inducted into the FFCC Sports Hall of Fame.

He was a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Brethren Church, serving on the youth committee and board of Trustees. He was a member of the Otter Wrestling Booster Board, and Buse Township Board supervisor. He had been a Lion’s Club member and a Sunday School teacher.

Jerry loved to be out in God’s beautiful creation: The farm “Almosta Kid Ranch” was a labor of love, planting thousands of trees, raising cattle, sheep & horses through the years. There, he taught his daughters and later grandchildren and great-grandchildren to appreciate God’s creation. Fishing trips to the Boundary Waters with Paul & David Rund, ski trips to many locations with family & friends including Switzerland twice, a family canoe trip to the BWCA. He attended and/or worked at 4 different Young Life Ranches around the country. He enjoyed missions work in Papua New Guinea, making 7 different trips. He was the greatest cheerleader, attending the various activities of his children, grandchildren & great-grandchildren. One of his greatest joys was attending Bluewater Covenant Bible Camp with his whole family, tubing with grandchildren and waterskiing until age 75.

Preceding him in death were his parents, Nick and Gladys Hess; brother, Lawrence Hess; sister-in-law, Doris Hess; brother-in-law, Ronnie Sears; mother and father-in-law, Rudy and Dorothy Karlen; brother-in-law, Lefty Karlen.

He is survived by his wife, Darlys Hess; children, Terri (Mark) Aho, Tarma (Brian) Carlson, Trisha (Mike) Hartwell, Trudy (Steve) Densmore all of Fergus Falls and Tyra (Dave) Laughlin of Mankato; grandchildren , AllieAnna, Abbot, Abram, Amarias, AmzieJoy, and Abel Aho: McKinzie (Jake) Laber, 1LT Jordan (1LT Chloée), Isaac (Kayla), Cory, and Sarah Carlson: Karlen, Kennedy, Kaden, Keziah and Kassten Hartwell, PFC Joshua, Caleb (Erika), Eli (Jenna) Zacharias, EmmaGrace, and Rainah Laughlin, Noah, Gideon, and Malachi Densmore, Adrienne Hanson; great grandchildren, M’Kelle, John, Dylan, and Bradyn Laber, Emily Hanson; brothers, David (Donna) of Embarrass, MN, Patrick (Mary) of Benson, MN; sister, Mary Belle Sears of Isle, MN; sister-in-law, Vonnie (Don) Shields of Pierre, SD; brother-in-laws, Larry (Donna) Karlen of Roseburg, OR and Gerry (Denise) Karlen of Johnsburg, IL; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Jerry will be greatly missed by many.

In lieu of flowers, gifts are preferred to Good Shepherd Lutheran Brethren Church, Health Resource Center or Young Life Otter Tail County.


Visitation: 1 hour prior to the service at the church
Celebration of Jerry’s life: 3 p.m. Friday, January 24, 2014 at Bethel Lutheran Church, 702 West Alcott Ave., Fergus Falls
Officiating: Rev. Mark Tungseth
Interment: Private family interment at a later date
Arrangements: Olson Funeral Home, Fergus Falls