Lester Fred Kruse, 83

With his family by his side, Lester Fred Kruse, age 83, passed away Saturday, May 10, 2008 at St. Mary’s, Duluth.
Lester was born Aug. 26, 1924 in Mankato, Minn., and grew up on a farm near St Clair, Minn.
He joined the U.S. Army training at Camp Hood Texas in August of 1944. He served in the Philippines with the 869th Ord Ham Company as Skipper of a PT Boat and Mechanic in Manila Bay from 1945 to 1946.
He received the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal and the Philippine Independence Ribbon.
He married the former Mary Armstrong on June 26, 1951 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, St. Clair.
Les and Mary moved to International Falls in 1952 where he worked as a shop foreman for the local Chevrolet company and joined the Air Force Reserves.
Lester started working as a department manager for JC Penny in 1958, retiring in 1983 after 25 years of service. He then continued work at the Tourist Information Center until it closed.
Lester was currently employed as caretaker at Woodland Apartments in the Falls.
He enjoyed many years of bowling, fishing and hunting and absolutely loved the game of horseshoes and playing pool with friends and family.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Selma; his twin sister, Esther; brother, Ervin; and his granddaughter, Jennifer Kruse.
Lester is survived by his wife, Mary; two sons, Wayne (Nancy), Bigfork, Minn. and Paul (Virginia), Fargo, N.D.; two daughters, Sandra Kruse, Glyndon, Minn. and Cindy Tveit (Gary), Warroad, Minn.; 11 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; his sisters, Verna Moore, Minneapolis, Irene Stouffel, Mankato, and June Honisch; and brother, Lawrence (Betty), Wells, Minn.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 14, at Green-Larsen Mortuary.
The funeral service, with full military rites, will be conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday, May 15, at St. Paul Lutheran Church.
Interment will follow at the American Legion Cemetery, International Falls.
The Kruse family then welcomes all to join them for lunch and time for fellowship back at St. Paul Lutheran Church.
Condolences may be left at www.greenlarsen.com.
Arrangements are with Green-Larsen Mortuary Inc., International Falls.