Gerald "Butch" D. Garrelts

Gerald “Butch” D. Garrelts age 71 of Alexandria died on Tuesday, October 13, 2015 at his home. A Memorial Service will be held 11:00 AM on Monday, October 19, 2015 at Calvary Lutheran Church in Alexandria. Visitation will be held 4-7 PM on Sunday, October 18, 2015 at Anderson Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday. Obituary Gerald “Butch” Dwight Garrelts was born on October 3, 1944 in Emmetsburg, Iowa to Heike and Myrtle (Shellabarger) Garrelts. In 1955, the family moved to Browerville, MN and later to Eagle Bend. Butch graduated from Parkers Prairie High School. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in January of 1964 and served in Germany during the Vietnam War. He was honorably discharged in January of 1966. On January 7, 1967, Butch was united in marriage to Carol Aslagson at Trinity Lutheran Church in Holmes City. Butch worked for the Osakis Silo Company for a short time before becoming a plumber and working for Jerry Tilleskjor. He received his journeyman and later his master plumbing certificate. Butch went to work for the local union 126 of Detroit Lakes as a pipefitter and welder. He received his journeyman in pipefitting and also became a certified welder. Butch worked all over the northern states with the union. In 1991, Butch retired due to his health. In November of 1997, he became bedridden but never lost his sense of humor. His loving wife Carol became his caretaker. Gerald loved hunting and fishing. He took hunting trips to Iowa, Colorado, Montana, and Wyoming, and fishing trips to Canada. During the winter months Gerald and Carol would take long road trips. One of their most memorable trips was when they drove down the east coast to Florida and got forced to look for a new vehicle but had a hard time finding one with four wheel drive. They then continued on to Texas, Nevada and then back home. Butch died on October 13, 2015 at his home at the age of 71. He is survived by his loving wife of 48 years, Carol, sisters, Joan (Ellsworth) Hauschen, Margaret (Al) Fisher, Sharon (Jerry) Gothman; sister-in-law, Diane Garrelts; brother-in-law, Bob (Millie) Clayton and many nieces and nephews and his shih tzu, Heidi. Butch is preceded in death by parents, Heike and Myrtle; one brother, Delmer Garrelts and three sisters, Bonnie Clayton, Shirley Sullivan, and Carolyn Farmer. A memorial service was held on Monday, October 19, 2015 at Calvary Lutheran Church in Alexandria with Reverend Hans Dahl officiating. Inurnment was at Rose Hill Cemetery in Holmes City.

Gerald "Butch" D. Garrelts

October 3, 1944 - October 13, 2015