Michael A Lucking

Michael Ambrose Lucking was born on April 3, 1918 in Perham, Minnesota to Mr. and Mrs. Blasius James Lucking. He died on June 29, 2014 at Sanford Palliative Care in Fargo. Besides his family, Mike was most proud of his service in the United States Army and his membership in MENSA.

Mike married Jeanette Brandt on May 8, 1943 in Pampas, Texas. They were married for 67 years until Jeanette’s death in February 2011.

Mike attended St. Henry’s Elementary School and graduated from Perham High School in 1936 where he was a star basketball player. He was appointed as an alternative candidate to West Point upon graduation. Mike completed a course in printing at Dunwoody Institute in Minneapolis in 1939. He received an accounting degree from the International Accounting Society in 1962. He then attended the Fergus Falls Community College and graduated from Moorhead State College in 1982 at the age of 64. As a member of the Army Reserve, he also attended various Army Schools including the Inspector General’s School at the Pentagon. He received a real estate license in 1970.

Mike was employed by the Fergus Falls Daily Journal from 1940 to 1977 when he quit to devote his time to his own company working as a corporate accountant. He maintained the financial records of the Title Atlas Company Corporation from 1963 to 1986. He was also the accountant for the Otter Tail-Wadena Community Action Council from 1965 to 1980. In 1965 he was elected to the original Board of Directors of the Council.

He entered the Army on his 24th birthday. He attended Aviation Cadet training in 1943 and was stationed at Liberal Air Base as a statistician until transferring to Artillery Officer Candidate School in 1945. He was discharged from the Army in 1946 but was recalled to active duty in 1953 during the Korean Conflict and was stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas where he managed the field printing plant. Mike remained a member of the Army Reserves until 1971 and at the time of his retirement held the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. The Army remained important to him until his death and he kept up to date on everything that affected our military services.

Mike served as the President of the Jefferson School PTA and was a member of the Fergus Falls PTA Council. He served two terms on the City Planning Commission and two terms on the Library Board Capital Improvement Committee. He was an original board member for the Center for the Arts and on the board of the Local Organ Society. He was a member of Toastmasters, Jaycees, and Vice Commander of the American Legion. Mike was a long time member of the Elks, serving as chaplain, and also winning the singles title in the Elks state bowling tournament. Mike also was a member of the AARP State Legislative Committee. From 1986-1990 he was active in Boy Scouts and as a volunteer income tax preparer.

Mike was a member of Our Lady of Victory Parish from 1940 until his death. In the Parish he served as president of the Men’s Club and president of the Home and School Association. He was a Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus. He was also appointed lector and lay pastor and served in those roles until 2006.

Mike was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers – James, Joseph, Robert and Harry, and most of his friends and long time golfing partners. He is survived by his daughter Laurie of Fergus Falls and Mililani, Hawaii, his son Patrick (Ellen Bragg) of Greenwood, Minnesota and three grandchildren – Nicolas, Caitlin and Alex Jensen of Fargo and Mililani, Hawaii.

Mike was simply the best father and grandfather ever and will be deeply missed by his family.

Visitation: One hour prior to the service at the church
Mass of Christian Burial: 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 8, 2014 at Our Lady of Victory Catholic
Church in Fergus Falls
Clergy: Father Alan Wielinski
Burial: Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Military Participation: Fergus Falls American Legion Post 30 and VFW Post 612
Arrangements: Olson Funeral Home, Fergus Falls.