Charles "Chuck" Fodness

Charles "Chuck" J. Fodness was born January 2, 1936 to Emmett and Tena (Buss) Fodness on a farm in rural Lennox, South Dakota. He moved with his parents to rural Kenneth, Minnesota and went to a one-room country school until the eighth grade. Chuck graduated in 1954 from Edgerton Public High School in Edgerton, Minnesota. He attended Nettleton Business College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Chuck moved to Michigan for a short time and then came back to meet the first love of his life Lucille at the Gem Ballroom in Hardwick, Minnesota. On June 25, 1956, Chuck was united in marriage to Lucille Van Leirsburg in Jasper, Minnesota. They started farming east of Hardwick. In 1957 they moved to their home of 48 years near Hardwick on the quarter of land that his father and grandfather farmed since 1928. Lucille preceded him in death in 1995. Chuck met the second love of his life Kathy on the dance floor at the Coliseum Ballroom in Worthington, Minnesota. They were married on May 27, 2000 in Worthington. Chuck farmed until January 2018 and retired at the age of 80. Chuck passed away on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, at the Sunset Hospice Cottage in Worthington, Minnesota.

Chuck was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Luverne, Minnesota. Chuck would have said that farming was his hobby. He lived and loved to farm. He used to go fishing when the boys were younger. Chuck served on the Battle Plain Township Board. He enjoyed politics, dancing, cars, and games (Sudoku, crosswords, Wheel of fortune, and playing cards). Chuck was an honest, dependable, and hard-working man. He was a great story teller. He liked to dress nice. He loved talking to his sons on the phone, and was known to say, "It don't really matter". He was very generous, and most important to him was his family.

Chuck is survived by his wife, Kathy Fodness of Rushmore, Minnesota; sons, Bruce (JoAnne) Fodness and Bryan (Mavis) Fodness, all of Hardwick; grandchildren, Robert (Lisa) Fodness, Julie (fiancé, Derrick Redlin) Fodness, Jonathon (Brittany) Fodness, Andrew (Laura) Fodness, Courtney (Andrew) Blenner, Lyndsey (fiancé, Adam Hartman) Fodness, and Adam (friend, Adriana De La Torre) Fodness; great-grandchildren, Jayden, Logan, Emmett, Kade, Easton, Elliot, and another due in June; sister, Barbara Hellwinkel of Hardwick; step-children, Gail (Paul) Dittmer of Worthington, Brett (Terri) Baumgartner of Madelia, Minnesota, Sam (significant other, Jay Sturm) Baumgartner of St. James, Minnesota, and Sarah (Carl) Beckstrom of Mitchell, South Dakota; step-grandchildren, Aaron Poppen, Anthony (Tosha) Poppen, Adrienne (Steve) Poppen, Zachary Baumgartner, Matthew Baumgartner, Jessica (Logan) Doyle, Kelsey Garvis, Maddisyn Garvis, Aiden Beckstrom, Henry Beckstrom, Jack Beckstrom, and Charlie Beckstrom; four step-great-grandchildren; and many brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Lucille; brothers, James and Larry Fodness; and sister, Iva Jean Dvorcek.