Junior F. Seydel

Junior Seydel of Detroit Lakes, MN died September 2, 2005 at Sunnyside Care Center in Lake Park, MN. He was 80.Junior Frederick Seydel was born September 21, 1924 on his parent's farm near the village of Dale in rural Becker Country, MN. He was the forth of twelve children of Frederick and Louise Schneider Seydel.After graduating from rural school District 41 in 1938, Junior continued working at the family farm and as a hired man at the nearby Knappen farm. On December 28, 1944 Junior enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was deployed to the Pacific theater aboard the Destroyer USS Healy. He was in Tokyo Bay during the signing of the Peace Treaty ending WWII. He was honorably discharged from the Navy in November, 1946 and returned to work on several farms, including his relatives the Bettenhausens on their farm near Chicago and Clifford Kuehl Farms, near Glyndon, and also American Crystal Sugar. In 1955, Junior was hired as a brick-layer for Carl Bergerson Construction near Renton, WA. From 1957-1979, Junior was employed by Modern Heating and Appliance in Detroit Lakes as a plumber. During this time he built his lake home on Big Floyd Lake that became a gathering place for his many relatives and friends. He hosted annual Forth of July Seydel Family Reunions for over 40 years.Junior was a life-long member of Immanuel Lutheran Church of Audubon, where he was baptized and confirmed and served many years as church trustee. He hunted bear in Northome MN, moose in Canada, deer and elk in Montana and fished salmon during a trip to Alaska with his brothers and sisters in 1992. He enjoyed giving rides in his 1931 Ford Model A. Junior was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Leona Sletmoen, Sylvia Nearhoof, Luella Lindstrom, Elline Noben and brother Elroy.Junior is survived by his close companion of eight years, Eleanor Regevig, Detroit Lakes, MN; brothers Wilbert Seydel and Grant Seydel, Hitterdal, MN, Archie Seydel, Detroit Lakes, MN, Eugene Sandy Seydel, Willmar, MN; sisters Esther Walter Atkinson, Bemidji, MN and Lyla Paul Olson, Lake Park, MN and 25 nieces and nephews.