Henry M. ’Hank’ Ford

Henry Hank Marvin Ford, devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and fishing partner, died peacefully at his home in Hawley, Minnesota surrounded by his family and under the good care of Hospice on Tuesday, February 22, 2005. He will remain in our hearts forever.Hank was born on January 10, 1927, at the John Ford family homestead three miles north of Hawley. One of nine children born to Sidney and Rose Burnside Ford, he attended grade school in District 104's one-room school house, before attending and graduating from Hawley High School in 1944.After serving in the U.S. armed services as a Private First Class in post-World War II Germany from May 1945 to October 1946, he returned to Hawley to farm with his father. He married LaVon Kuehl in 1950 and celebrated their partnership and love for more than fifty-four years. Hank and LaVon farmed at the homestead until 1989, when he retired his collection of shiny green John Deere tractors, combines, and other equipment to have more time for fishing and hunting trips with friends and attending the many events of his grandchildren. He never fully retired though if there was a tractor to drive. He assisted Courtney and Chuck Carlson as long as he could during several summers.In retirement, Hank and LaVon wintered together for ten years in Mesa, Arizona enjoying card games, fresh, home-made lemon meringue pies, grapefruit off of his trees, and sunny days in short-sleeved shirts talking about the cold, cold weather up north with several young-at-heart friends. Throughout his lifetime, he enjoyed many trips with his family and, later, long drives in the country with his wife. His sense of humor, his laugh, and his teasing grin were with him to his last day and will be missed, but remembered frequently by all who knew him.He had served on the Hawley School Board from 1959 to 1968 and was active member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Hawley. His home was always open to family, friends, and neighbors and the center of activities on holidays and Sundays.Hank is survived by his wife LaVon; his son Larry Ford; three daughters, Kathryn David Meissner, Lori Roger Mjones, Patricia Dean Haugen; daughter-in-law, Sally Ford Critchley; thirteen grandchildren, Chad Ford, Amy Jon DuBois, Shawn Ford, Heather Aaron Brockman, Trisha Chad Rux, Eric and Heidi Meissner, Mathew, Nicholas, and Emily Mjones, Bryce, Paul, and Andrea Haugen; four great-grandchildren, Gabrielle and Charles DuBois, Abigail and Kaitlyn Rux; four sisters, Annie Tangen, Lucille Lepper, Dorothy Kluck, and Irene Kluck.He was preceded in death by his son Charles Chuck; his four brothers Lester, William Bill, Ralph Shorty, and Ernest Ernie.The family of Hank Ford gratefully acknowledges the many expressions of kindness during our time of loss and offers a special thank you to Hospice of the Red River Valley, Pastor Dale, and friends for their kind assistance during this difficult time.