Edward C. Luthi

Edward C. Luthi, 89, of Hawley, Minnesota, died Monday, October 16, 2006, at the Viking Manor Nursing Home, Ulen, Minnesota, surrounded by his wife and children.Edward Carl Luthi was born on March 24, 1917, to Fred and Anna Weiss Luthi. He grew up with three brothers and five sisters on a farm northeast of Hawley. He attended the first eight years of school at Winnipeg Junction and graduated from Hawley High School in 1937. He continued his education at Dunwoody Technical College in Minneapolis where he studied architecture. On March 24, 1942, he married Esther Anderson at the Highland Grove Lutheran Church parsonage. Edward took over the family farm and continued to farm until his retirement. After his retirement, he and Esther continued to live on the farm until 1994, when they built a house in Hawley.Edward loved the good earth and after he retired from farming he continued to till the soil by planting a huge garden with rarely a weed in it. Edward loved being outdoors and all through his life had a passion for planting trees. He grew nearly every kind imaginable, from native white pine his favorite to apricot, apple, maple, oak- you name it. He definitely had a green thumb. And there seemed to be a story behind every tree he planted. Whether it was simply an admiration for that particular kind of tree, how he came to plant it or maybe a memory that tree called to mind.Edward loved family gatherings. We have many wonderful memories of him and his family, winter or summer fishing, skiing or skating, or just having a good old-fashioned picnic. He helped make Christmas extra special by filling candy bags for each member of his family, a tradition his children carry on. He also loved to travel and he and Esther enjoyed many wonderful vacations together.Edward was a life-long member of Highland Grove Lutheran Church. He served on various church and community boards, including the Highland Grove Lutheran Church Council., the Hawley Creamery Board, and the Winnipeg Junction School Board. He was also a member of the American Horticulture Association.Since January of 2005, Edward has resided at the Viking Manor Nursing Home in Ulen. On March 24, 2006, he and Esther celebrated 64 years of marriage. On October 16, 2006, he went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.He was preceded in death by three brothers,, four sisters, and a son, David Edward.He is survived by his wife, Esther; three sons, Vergil Adrienne Luthi, Hitterdal, MN, Michael LaVaye Luthi, Hawley, MN, and Paul Lori Luthi, Moorhead, MN; one daughter, Kay Bob Aldrich, Hawley, MN; ten grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; one sister, Hilda Birch McVay, Georgia.We, his family, are very grateful to God for giving us such a wonderful husband, dad and grandpa.