Francis (Skip) Allen Stelter

Francis A. Stelter age 71 of Garvin, MN died Sunday, March 27, 2011 at the Hospice House in Marshall, MN. Services will be 11:00 AM Saturday, April 2, 2011 at the Lake Sarah Lutheran Church in Garvin. Visitation will be from 4:00 until 8:00 PM Friday, April 1, 2011 at the Almlie Funeral Home in Tracy, MN, with a prayer service at 7:00 PM and continuing one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday. Interment will be in the Bethany Cemetery. The Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy is handling the arrangements. Francis “Skip” Allen Stelter was born December 5, 1939 to Adolph and Lillian (Melby) Stelter in Marshall, MN, Lyon County. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith and attended Lynd Public Schools, graduating from Lynd High School in 1957. He was drafted into the U. S. Army in May of 1963 and was stationed at Ft. Sam Houston, TX, where he trained as a medical corpsman. He received his honorable discharge in May of 1965 and returned to Minnesota. On December 17, 1960 “Skip” married Judith Wirtjes at Lake Sarah Lutheran in Garvin, MN. They made their home in Garvin for a short time before moving to Killeen, TX, then returned to Minnesota. After living in several communities in central Minnesota they settled back in Garvin in 1976. Skip worked as a bulk fuel driver for Tri-State Petroleum in Marshall, MN for many years. He was a member of the Lake Sarah Lutheran Church, and in the past had served on the church council and sang in the choir. He also was active in the area Horseshoe Leagues for many years, and enjoyed stock car racing and Vikings football. In September of 2010, “Skip” entered the Prairie Home Hospice House in Marshall where he died Sunday, March 27, 2011 at the age of 71. “Skip” is survived by his three sons, Mark (Susan) Stelter of Rapid City, SD, Eric (Carissa) Stelter of Watertown, SD, and Jason (Liz) Stelter of Sioux Falls, SD; five grandchildren, Zachary, Lexi, Cole, Jack, and Sam Stelter; three sisters, Marilyn Kor of Russell, MN, Carol (Gary) Sorenson of Elk River, MN, and Joanne (Ronald) Dobrenski of Minneota, MN; one sister-in-law, Sharon (Ted) Haugen of Currie, MN; nieces, nephews and many friends. His parents, and wife, Judy preceded him in death.