Kurt Langbehn

Kurt Wayne Langbehn, 70, of Fergus Falls, died at his home surrounded by family on Sunday, September 30, 2012, after a courageous fight with cancer.

Kurt was born on March 30, 1942, in Huron, SD, the son of Alfred and Helen (Carson) Langbehn. He grew up in Tulare, SD, where he graduated from high school in 1960. Kurt was an outstanding all-around athlete. He excelled in baseball, basketball, track and football. Kurt was appointed by Senator Carl Mundt as an alternate to the Naval Academy in 1960. He attended Northern State College in Aberdeen, SD.

Kurt had a beautiful bass voice and played the bass guitar. He was a member of the “Nomads” rock-n-roll band out of Northern State College. They played the top 40 at noted ballrooms throughout the upper Midwest.

In 1964 he started his career with Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company in Aberdeen as Credit Sales Manager. In 1968 he was promoted to Area Sales Manager out of Watertown, SD. In 1970 he transferred into retail at Huron, SD. In 1979 he moved to Fergus Falls and founded Fergus Tire Center as an independent Goodyear dealership. He owned and operated Fergus Tire Center for 30 years. He was always known as a fair businessman who had a smile on his face and a good joke for his customers. His son and daughter-in-law own and operate it today.

Kurt has three children from a previous marriage, Dawn, Kevin and Sharleen. In 1987 he met and married Vicky Atwood. Vicky has two children, Kris and Jeff. He was extremely proud of his blended family and all of the children’s successes. That pride was extended to their 12 beautiful grandchildren.

Kurt loved being able to spend time with family and friends – fishing trips, hunting, golfing, woodworking, or just “hanging out”. He willingly shared his gifts and talents singing, playing guitar, and teaching those who wanted to learn. He could always be counted on to help a member of the family or a friend with a building project.

He and Vicky loved spending their time together and shared many combined hobbies and interests. For the last 11 years, he and Vicky spent the winter months in Arizona developing new life-long friendships. He started a rock-n-roll band in their park and had such fun singing and playing the songs from the 50s and 60s.

Kurt always had a positive outlook on life. Whether Kurt greeted you on the phone or shook your hand on the street . . . no matter what the weather was outside or the time of day . . . his greeting was always the same . . . “It’s a bright shiny day”.

He was an active member of Augustana Lutheran Church and a member of the Elks, Masonic Lodge, and a previous member of the Rotary Club.

Kurt was preceded in death by his parents, Alfred and Helen Langbehn; an infant brother, Gary Langbehn; and a son-in-law, Chip Saxton.

Survivors include his wife, Vicky, of Fergus Falls, MN; his children, Dawn Saxton of Ashby, MN, Kevin (Kim) Langbehn of Fergus Falls, MN, Sharleen Langbehn (Pat Burns) of Fergus Falls, MN, Kris (Matt) Clark of Rogers, MN, and Jeff (Heather) Atwood of Big Lake, MN. He is also survived by his 12 grandchildren: Sean and Gavin Saxton; Sarah, Seth, and Sydney Langbehn; Mickael and Michelle Burns; Emma, Joe, and Grace Clark; and Luke and Hailey Atwood.

Honorary pallbearers are the countless friends who have meant so much to us over the years and through his illness.

Visitation: 5-7 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home and resumes one hour prior to the service at the church
Memorial Service: 11 a.m. Thursday, October 4, 2012, at Augustana Lutheran Church, Fergus Falls
Clergy: Reverend Phil Tobin
Interment: Knollwood Memorial Gardens, Fergus Falls
Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls is in charge of the arrangements.
Condolences may be sent online at www.olsonfuneralhome.com

Note: Fergus Tire Center will be closed the day of the funeral in memory of its founder, Kurt.