Gordon John Tufte

RUSHFORD, MINN. - Gordon "Gordy" John Tufte, 84, of Rushford, Minn. died on Tuesday, August 25, 2009, at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Home in Rushford. He was born on April 17, 1925, in Fergus Falls, Minn. to John and Cora (Gorder) Tufte. Gordy lived in Fergus Falls until moving with his family to rural Lanesboro, Minn. as a child. He served in the U.S. Army during WWII in the Philippines. After the war, Gordy married Genette Benson and together they raised eight children. Gordy enjoyed farming and worked for MNDOT on the Highway Maintenance crew in the Rushford area from 1972, until his retirement. Gordy was an avid Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings fan. He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, threshing B's, anything involving work horses, and antique tractors and cars. He also had a large baseball cap collection. His pride and joy was his 1929 Studebaker Diplomat. He is survived by his former wife and best friend, Genette Tufte; five sons: Michael Tufte of Minneapolis, Minn., Matthew Tufte of Mesick, Mich., Stephan (LeeAnn) Tufte of Oskaloosa, Kan., Phillip Tufte of Mesick, Mich., and Gordon (Ronda) Tufte II, of Dumont, Iowa; two daughters: Theresa (Jay) Swanstrom of Rochester, Minn., and MariAnne Tufte of Edina, Minn.; one son-in-law, Dwayne Maier of New Richmond, Wis.; fifteen grandchildren, and eleven great-grandchildren; one brother, Loren (Carol) Tufte of Lanesboro, Minn.; one sister, Marilyn Boe of the Twin Cities; one sister-in-law Ardys Tufte; and by many nieces and nephews. Gordy was preceded in death by his parents, one daughter, Lenette "Bitsy" Maier, one infant son, one granddaughter, Tamara, one infant great-great-granddaughter, two brothers: Kenneth and Eldon, two sisters: Lucille Erickson and Joanne Manske, one sister-in-law, Margaret Tufte and two brothers-in-law: Lew Erickson and Darwin Boe. The funeral service for Gordy will be at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 29, at Rushford Lutheran Church with the Rev. Louise Stromberg officiating. Burial will be in the Rushford Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. until the time of the service on Saturday at the church. The family prefers memorials to the Rushford Fire Department or the Rushford Ambulance. Hoff Funeral Homes - Rushford Chapel is assisting the family with funeral arrangements. Please leave a memory of Gordy, sign his online guestbook, and view his tribute video when it becomes available online www.hofffuneral.com
Tribute video can be found at: videos.lifetributes.com/86611