Foley, Minnesota
Vernon Magnuson, age 95, of Foley, went to meet Jesus peacefully with family by his side Aug. 25, 2024, at The Gardens at Foley. Funeral services were Aug. 30 at New Life Church in Foley. Private family burial followed the service. Arrangements by Peterson-Johnson Funeral Home of Milaca
Vernon Henning Magnuson was born March 2, 1929, to Henning and Ruth Magnuson in Minneapolis. He moved to the farm his uncles had built in rural Foley at the age of 5. He attended a one-room schoolhouse through the eighth grade and graduated from Foley High School in 1947. He worked with his father on the family farm and was released from the draft for the Korean War to keep the family farm running.
Vernon married the love of his life, Mabel Ryckman, from Pollock, South Dakota, on June 29, 1957. They had three daughters, Lori, Sara and Carla, and raised them on the farm. Vernon continued farming in various forms, and Mabel and he lived on the family farm until 2018 when they moved to their new home on Carla and Scott’s farm closer to Foley.
Vernon was always active in his local church, and he loved to sing in the choir and a men’s quartet. Hymns were always his favorite. He was a man of strong Christian faith, and he displayed this in his everyday life, passing on a great spiritual heritage to his descendants. He always kept busy with woodworking, visiting shut-ins, working as a church custodian, teaching Bible classes and serving in church leadership. He loved playing games and working on jigsaw puzzles. He enjoyed helping his sons-in-law with whatever projects they were working on, and he helped his grandchildren with woodworking and school projects. His kind and gentle spirit was known by everyone who knew him, even the farm animals.
Vernon was preceded in death by his parents, brother Ray, sisters Lois and Gladys, and also a child, grandchild, and great-grandchild who went to be with Jesus before they were born into this world. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Mabel; daughters Lori (Doug) Lezer of Sauk Rapids, Sara (Mark) Chmielewski of Superior, Wisconsin, and Carla (Scott) Johnson of Foley; grandchildren Ryan (Nicole) Lezer, Cody (Jenny) Lezer, Amy (Ben) Hageman, Michael (Alyssa) Chmielewski, Katherine (Kelsey) Oldenkamp, John (Desiree) Chmielewski, Shelby (Alex) Reimers, Riley (Dan) Marod, Colby (fiance’ Madi), and Gabrielle Johnson; great-grandchildren Kyla, Leddy and Roux Lezer, Lydia, Logan and Dylan Lezer, Caden and Rowan Hageman, Vernon Chmielewski; and four great-grandchildren are expected in the coming months. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.
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