Walter "Bob" Perry

OBITUARY Walter Robert ?Bob? Perry, age 85, passed away on January 1, 2011. He was born on April 27, 1925 in LaBelle, Idaho to Heber Morgan Perry and Lydia Mary Champion. He attended school in Rigby, Idaho until he moved with his family to Charlo, Montana in 1942. His amazing self-taught knowledge of United States and world history was a major factor in his passing the high school equivalency tests in 1966 without any formal preparation. In 1959 he married Maxine Gail Elverud and together they raised five children. Bob and Maxine began their life together in Charlo, Montana where he raised beef cattle. They moved to Minnesota in 1964, where they owned and operated a dairy farm north of Staples, near Oylen. In 1979 they moved to a pig farm in Thomastown township. They moved to Miltona in 1995; and he continued working for Prairie Community Services Group Home for the developmentally disabled as a caregiver. In 2002, Bob was awarded the first annual Larry P. Fehr Memorial Award for outstanding services to the clients. Bob?s broken hip in 2007 forced him to retire, ending his twenty-year career as a caregiver. Bob thrived working with horses and cattle--a true cowboy at heart. His favorite horse, named Red, played a role in Bob and Maxine?s early romance. Bob was known for his love and knowledge of sports. In Charlo, MT, the editor of the local paper asked him to write a weekly sports column, though he declined. When he was a boy and a young man he was an avid New York Giants fan and continued to follow the team when they moved to San Francisco, but he changed his allegiance to the Twins when he moved to Minnesota. He was a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served in a variety of teaching and leadership positions within the Church. He was a true Christian; always concerned about others, willing to help a neighbor, and had a special place in his heart for the developmentally disabled. Bob was a devoted husband and loving father. Through love, laughter, sacrifice and hard work, he and Maxine raised their family. He will be remembered for his tall tales and his sense of humor, which is one of his many traits that are reflected in his children and grandchildren whom Bob continually teased. Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Heber and Lydia Perry; his brothers, Jim and Warren Perry; his sisters, Hazel (Albert) Roylance and Jean Perry; and his granddaughter Savannah Ash. He is survived by his wife, Maxine Perry of Miltona, MN; his sons, Matt (Julie) Perry of Lakeport, CA and Mark (Wendie) Perry, La Grande, OR. ; his daughters, Teresa (Gary) Bentz of Browerville, MN, Joan (Duane) Ash of Gillette, WY, and Karen (Dan) Schueller of Sauk Rapids, MN; as well as his grandchildren, Autumn (Ben) Deuel of Parkers Prairie, MN, Gram Bentz of St. Cloud, MN, Grant Bentz of Rice, MN, McKay, Ashley and Chandler Perry of Lakeport, CA, Rebecca and Mariah Ash of Gillette, WY, Emma and Samantha Perry of La Grande, OR, Amber Schueller of Sauk Rapids, MN and his great-granddaughter Bailey Deuel of Parkers Prairie, MN. Visitation will be on Thursday January 6th, from 4-7 P.M. at Andersons Funeral Home, Alexandria, MN. Funeral services will be held at 2;00 p.m. on January 7, 2011 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meetinghouse at 1427 Lake St., Alexandria, MN. Arrangements are with the Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria. www.andersonfuneral.net