Fred Samuel Tutt

Frederick “Fred” Samuel Tutt was born August 22, 1916 to John and Christine (Corneliussen) Tutt on the family farm in Ellsborough Township, Murray County, MN. He was baptized and confirmed in the Christian faith and attended Country School District #102. He then attended Lake Wilson Public School before going to work full time on the family farm. In 1941 Fred enlisted in the U. S. Army and was stationed in the South Pacific, serving in the 147th Field Artillery Battalion during World War II. After his Honorable Discharge in 1945 he returned to the family farm. On August 22, 1948 Fred married Velma E. Radtke in the Johnsonville Lutheran Church in Redwood County. They made their home on the Tutt family farm where Fred was born and they remained there until his retirement in 1996, when they moved into Balaton, MN. Besides serving his country, Fred was very active in the communities in his area. He was a member of the Herbert Holtke American Legion Post in Lake Wilson, MN since 1945, where he helped in creating a veterans memorial. He served on the Lake Wilson School Board, the Murray County Park Board and the Board of Directors for the Lake Wilson Bank. Fred was also a past member of the Board of Directors of the Nobles Electric Cooperative (REA), and the Selective Service Board for Murray County. He was a long time member of the Ellsborough Lutheran Church, located adjacent to the land that he farmed for so many years. He also served on the Ellsborough Church Board, and was a current member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Balaton. Fred was an active outdoorsman and had a substantial interest in wildlife habitat improvement and preservation. He helped install the first aeration system in Lake Shetek and in the early 1960’s he worked on the Current Lake Renovation Project. He was active in both the Lake Wilson and Balaton Sportsman’s Clubs. Fred was an avid hunter and fisherman. In conjunction with the State of Minnesota, he helped create the Tutt Family Wildlife Management Area from a portion of the original family farm. After his farming career, he had a substantial garden and he enjoyed sharing the fruits of this labor with friends, neighbors and relatives. He also maintained a great interest in planting trees on his farm, still making plans from his hospital bed for additional tree planting. Following his wife Velma’s death in 2004, Fred moved into the Lakeview Apartments in 2005. On Thursday, January 17, 2008 Fred died at the Sanford-Tracy Area Medical Center at the age of 91. Fred is survived by his two sons, Sam (Peggy) Tutt of Balaton, MN and Steve (Joan) Tutt of Marshall, MN; one daughter, Nancy (John) Darnall of Plymouth, MN; ten grandchildren; two great grandchildren; three brothers, Earl Tutt of Napa, CA, John Tutt of Balaton, MN and Caroll Tutt of Lake Wilson, MN; one sister, Irene Telford of Pittsburgh, PA; many nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends. His wife, Velma, parents, one sister, Mary Owens and one brother, Art Tutt preceded him in death.