Edward Minor Sampson, age 85 of Belview, passed away on Saturday, March 19, 2016 at the Parkview Home in Belview.  Funeral services will be held at 10:30 am Wednesday, March 23 at Grace Lutheran Church in Belview.  Visitation will be from 4:00-7:00 pm Tuesday AT THE CHURCH, and will continue one hour prior to the service on Wednesday.  A private family interment will be held at Grace Lutheran Cemetery at a later date.  Online condolences may be sent at www.stephensfuneralservice.com.  Stephens Funeral Service – Redwood Valley Funeral Home in Redwood Falls is assisting the family with arrangements.

Edward Minor Sampson was born March 7, 1931 at the Redwood Falls Hospital to Minor and Mable (Peterson) Sampson.  He was baptized and confirmed at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Belview.  Edward graduated from Belview Public High School in 1949.  He served in the US Army (Minnesota Army National Guard on federal service) from 1951-1952.  He graduated from the Wahpeton School of Science, Wahpeton, ND, in 1953.  Edward owned and operated Sampson Hardware and Plumbing from 1953 until his retirement in 2005.  On June 17, 1956 Edward was united in marriage to Sally Joyce Butzer at Zion Lutheran Church in Morton.  Sally was the great love of Edward’s life.  Edward and Sally had three children: Lee, Ann and Jon.  Edward was a lifelong resident of Belview.  He was a member of the August Donner American Legion Post #309, the Belview Booster Club, and the Belview Country Show.  He was a past member of the Belview City Council and the Parkview Nursing Home Board.  Edward was a pilot and had a passion for aircraft and aviation.  He built his first airplane in 1965.  He built and flew nine more airplanes over the years.  He also restored and owner several more.  Edward especially enjoyed mentoring other aircraft builders.  He received the Wright Brothers Award at the Dayton International Air Show in 1982 for one of his aircraft.  Edward was for many decades part of teams restoring antique and vintage aircraft, several of which won national awards.  Edward made numerous friends nationwide in the aviation community.  He was a member of the Antique Aircraft Association, the Experimental Aircraft Association (Chapters 431 & 688), the Pietenpol Association and Marginal Aviation.

Edward was especially proud of his family and is survived by his beloved wife Sally, and his children: Lee (Georgia) Sampson, Ann Bruns (special friend Bruce Rakke) and Jon (Kelly) Sampson; grandsons: Travis (Stephanie) Bruns, Thomas (Lacey) Bruns, and Troy Bruns (fiancée Kimberly Kohlhof), Ryan (Bobbi Jo) Luckhardt; great grandchildren: Lydia, Hattie, and Grayson, Malaya, Marquis, Malikye, and Marion; and his beloved dog Otto.  He is preceded in death by his parents Minor and Mable Sampson.