Milton Marquardt, age 87 of Vesta, passed away Friday, December 4, 2015 at the Redwood Area Hospital. Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday, December 7 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Vesta. Visitation is 4:00-7:00 p.m. Sunday AT THE CHURCH with a 6:30 p.m. prayer service. Visitation will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Monday. Burial is in the Vesta Cemetery. 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.

Milton Ervin Marquardt was born September 25, 1928 to Emil Otto and Adella Henschke Marquardt in Echo Township. He was baptized in October 1928 and confirmed in May of 1942 at Peace Lutheran Church in Echo, Minnesota. He attended school in District 18. Milt joined the Redwood Falls National Guard 135^th Infantry Division in October of 1950. The Guard unit was activated January 16, 1951 and was sent to Camp Rucker, AL for training on January 23, 1951. He, along with other members of the guard unit, was sent to Korea in June of 1951. He served in a tank company of the 7^th Regiment, 3^rd Division until August of 1952. He was discharged with the rank of Sgt. 1^st Class at Ft. McCoy, Wisconsin and returned to the Guard Unit in Redwood Falls for another year. During his service, he received a Sharp Shooter Medal, Rifle and Pistol Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, Good Conduct Medal, United Nations Korean Service Medal, Rep of Korea War Service National Defense Medal, and the Korea Service Medal W/2 Combat Stars. Milton was married to Dorothy Truax on June 6, 1954 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Vesta. Two daughters, Mary Lee and Kathleen Kay were born to this union. Over the years, Milt was employed by the City of Echo, and Walter Grane at the Red Owl Store in Echo as a meat cutter until 1954. He then moved to Vesta and was employed by Melvin Oehrlein in the Vesta Locker as a butcher and meat cutter until 1963 when he farmed south of Vesta and also managed the Vesta Liquor Store. Milt and Dorothy moved into Vesta in 1997 where he was residing at the time of his hospitalization. Milton was a member of the Vesta American Legion Post #306 from 1955 to the present time where he served as Commander and Sgt of Arms at various times. He was a charter member of the Vesta Lions Club, and he served on St. John’s Church Board as a Trustee, Chairman and Treasurer of the Board. He served 2 terms on the Vesta City Council, was Leader of the Vesta Vikings 4-H Club, and also taught Gun Safety Classes to many young people for 30 years before retiring. Along with Dick Kropp, Mel Henriksen and Miles Gladitsch, he coached the Girls’ Softball Team for several years. Milt enjoyed hunting, fishing, and card playing at the Vesta Café, watching Westerns, the Vikings, Twins, and all hunting programs on TV. His special joy was his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Milton fell at his home on October 31 and broke his hip. Surgery repaired his hip and pneumonia developed in his lungs. He was in the New Ulm Hospital, Parkview Nursing Home, and the Redwood Area Hospital for 5 weeks when the Lord called him home on Friday, December 4, 2015 at the age of 87 years, 2 months, and 9 days.

Milton is survived by his wife of 61 years, Dorothy; children: Mary Lee (Mark) Dove of Redwood Falls and Kathleen Kay (Steven) Busack of Echo; grandchildren: Jason Moonen of Hastings, Randall Moonen and fiancée Sonia Ngwa of Hastings, Rebecca (Jermicus) Banks of Raleigh, NC, Jessica Busack of Mankato, Brooke Busack and special friend Joe Dambroten of Echo, and Morgan Busack of Echo. He is also survived by his great-grandchildren Rowdy Milton Dambroten of Echo and Emmerson Renee Banks of Raleigh, NC; and nieces Kari Seime of Lake George, Gloria Kehir of Antioch, TN, and Patti Brune of Savage.