Willis Hoyt

Willis Hoyt, 88, of Underwood, died Sunday, August 22, 2010, at the Battle Lake Good Samaritan Center in Battle Lake. He was born May 8, 1922, in St. Paul, Minnesota, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Willis Hoyt Sr. He graduated from Stewart High School in 1939, and was enrolled in Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN until the outbreak of WWII.  He enlisted in the U.S. Marines in 1942 serving in the Pacific Islands. He was discharged in 1945. While at Quantico Marine Base in Virginia he met Gloria Swanson Heflin. They were married on October 26, 1945 at the First Lutheran Church in St. Peter. Following his service he received his degree in Mortuary Science and they eventually settled in Comfrey, Minnesota, where he ran a funeral home/furniture store business. In 1959 he expanded the business by adding another funeral home in Springfield, Minnesota. While there he briefly served on the City Council and joined the Rotary Club. In 1980 he and Gloria retired and moved to rural Underwood. He served on the Church Council and was treasurer at Tingvold Lutheran Church. They later joined the Maine Presbyterian Church. He was known for the handmade wood craft kits he provided for the Vacation Bible School students. Willis enjoyed woodworking, golfing, and duck hunting in his free time. Preceding him in death were his parents, his wife, Gloria, his son, David, and his brother, Kenny. Survivors include three children: Larry, Nancy, and Dennis; seven grandchildren: Donald, Ricky, Larmi, Clark, Levi, Nikki, and Noah; eight great-grandchildren: Brian, Ben, Brittany, Brent, Madison, Emma, Davis, and Will; and a step-sister, Joyce. Visitation: 5-7 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home and resumes one hour prior to the service at the church Service: 1:30 p.m. Thursday, August 26, 2010, at Maine Presbyterian Church, Maine, Minnesota Clergy:   Reverend Glenn Lord Interment: Silent Vale Cemetery, Maine, Minnesota Funeral Home: Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls