Jay Garthus

Jay Garthus, Middle River (Holt), MN, 84, passed away on Monday, August 5, 2019 at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks, ND, with his loving family by his side.

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday, August 12, 2019 at Nazareth Lutheran Church in Holt, MN, with Rev. Cathie Rhodes officiating. Burial will follow at the Holt Cemetery, Holt, MN.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM with a 7:00 PM Prayer Service on Sunday, August 11, 2019 at Nazareth Lutheran Church in Holt. Visitation will also take place one hour prior to the funeral service on Monday at the church.

Jay Lee Garthus was born on September 4, 1934 in Mud Lake Township, Marshall County, MN, the son Bernard and Helen (Monson) Garthus. He was baptized at home in Mud Lake Township and confirmed at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in the Ringbo Community. He attended Sunnyside School as a child and graduated from Newfolden High School in 1952. Following high school he worked for local farmers.

Jay enlisted with the United States Army in January of 1955. He completed his basic training at Ft. Leonard Wood in Missouri and was stationed in Germany. Jay was honorably discharged in January of 1957.

Jay met the love of his life, Carol Olson in January of 1957 at the Farmer’s Union Hall in Pencer, MN. On December 6, 1958 Jay and Carol were united in marriage at the Pine Grove Church in Pencer. To this union three children were born – Jody, Leone, and Miles. Together they made their home in Roseau for a short time and later moved to the Holt area where they currently reside. Jay was a small grain farmer, raised beef cattle, draft horses, and sheep. He custom sheared sheep for over 20 years and also worked at Land O’ Lakes Turkey Plant for 30 years. Jay served on the Holt Town Board for 20 years. He was a member of Nazareth Lutheran Church in Holt. Jay enjoyed reading, hunting, dancing, going to rodeos and tractor and horse pulls, auction sales, spending time with his grandchildren – Brad, Corey, Brenda, and Craig, step-grandchildren – Josh, Joe, Jeremy, Justin, and Amy, great-grandchildren – Wyatt, Izeck, Ty, Tucker, Gage, McKenna, Mya, Myron, Kayci, Kylee, Kooper, and stepgreat-grandchilden – Lilyanna, Chelsie, and Jacob.

Jay is survived by his loving wife, Carol of 60 years of Holt, MN; children, Jody Lunke of Thief River Falls, MN, Leone (Mike) Johnson of Strandquist, MN, and Miles (Val) Garthus of Warroad, MN; grandchildren, Brad (Sara) Lunke of Thief River Falls, MN, Corey Skadsem of Strandquist, MN, Brenda (Tom) Paquin of Greenbush, MN, Craig (Megan) Skadsem of Karlstad, MN, Josh Johnson and Joe Johnson of Brainerd, MN, Jeremy Pearson of Warroad, MN, Amy (Joe) Kramer of Shevlin, MN, and Justin Pearson of Warroad, MN; all of his great-grandchilden; brother, Kenny Garthus of Holt, MN; sister, Dorothy Engen of Erskine, MN; several nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ben and Helen; brother, Joe; daughter-in-law, Amber; sister-in-law, Janet Garthus.

Condolences may be sent to www.johnsonfuneralservice.com