Henry Donald Degrote

Henry Donald DeGrote was born to Rhinder and Lydia (Timmerman) DeGrote on January 7, 1926 on a farm in Nobles County, Minnesota where he was raised and attended country school. When he was 12 years old, he moved with his parents to a farm in Ellsborough Township, between Ruthton and Balaton, Minnesota. He continued his education at the high school in Ruthton. After his graduation, he worked for the area farmers and also drove truck. On September 12, 1946, he entered the U.S. Army and served in Korea. He was discharged from the service on September 12, 1948. At that time, he returned to the family farm and worked for the area farmers. On June 14, 1951, he was united in marriage to Caroline Laura Schelhaas in Edgerton, Minnesota. Following their marriage, they lived on a farm near Ruthton. A year later, they moved to Edgerton where Henry worked at the school and also drove truck for Menning Transfer. When this company closed in September, 1979, they moved to Russell, Minnesota where he drove truck for Murphy Transport. After his retirement in March, 1983, he and his wife spent their winters in Texas until 2006. Henry died at the Golden Living Center in Franklin, Minnesota on Thursday, May 10, 2012 at the age of 86 years.

Henry was a member of Grace First Parish - Presbyterian in Russell, Minnesota. When his children were young, he volunteered as a Boy Scout leader. He also volunteered as an EMT with the ambulance service in Edgerton, Minnesota. He enjoyed camping, woodworking, square dancing and walking.

He is lovingly remembered by his wife, Caroline DeGrote of Russell, Minnesota; four children, Gerald DeGrote and his wife Kitty of Hastings, Minnesota, Sharon DeGrote of Denver, Colorado, Darla Winkelhorst and her husband Loren of West Bend, Iowa, and Beth DeGrote of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; 10 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; three brothers, Wayne (and Irene) DeGrote of Seal Beach, California, LeRoy (and Delores) DeGrote of Slayton, Minnesota, and Lester DeGrote of Punta Gorda, Florida; a sister, Lois (and Curtis) Erickson of Lake Wilson, Minnesota; and many other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Rhinard, Tony, James and Merle; and a sister, Pearl Jacobson.