Rev. Burton F. Blair

REV. BURTON FRANK BLAIR was born on June 24, 1921, in Delavan Township, Faribault County, MN to Frank Willard and Emmabelle (Cook) Blair. He attended rural elementary school in Delavan Township and graduated from the Winnebago High School in 1939. He and his brother operated the family farm while they were in high school as their father died at an early age. On September 10, 1942, he entered the U. S. Army, serving during World War II in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, Corsica and southern France. On October 1, 1945, he was honorably discharged and returned to his family farm home. On November 26, 1949, he married Dorothy Avis Allston of Brainerd, MN at the Aldrich Avenue Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis.

In 1950, he ended his farming operation and entered Bethel College, St. Paul, MN to prepare for the Gospel Ministry. He graduated in1953 and entered the Presbyterian Seminary at Dubuque, IA. During his seminary years he served the Ebenezer Presbyterian Church at Macomb, Illinois as student pastor. Upon graduation, he accepted a call from the First Presbyterian Church of Dunbar, NE and was ordained there on March 3, 1957. He served the Dunbar church through 1959, then the Germantown Presbyterian Church, Chancellor, SD to July 31, 1964.

In 1964 he became Pastor of the Riverside Presbyterian Church in Sioux Falls, SD and organizing Pastor of a new Presbyterian Church in Brandon, SD. The new church was organized in 1965 and he served these two churches until 1970. He next served the First Presbyterian Church of Wheaton, MN until 1979. In 1979 he became the Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church at Beaver Creek, MN and continued there until retirement in1986. In 1986 he was engaged by the First Presbyterian Church of Luverne, MN as Visitation Pastor. He continued in this capacity until January 31, 1993 and was a member of this church.

In retirement he enjoyed heading south for the winter, visiting friends and family, telling jokes and war stories, and working on a project in his shop.

In June 2012, the couple moved to the Deerfield Gables in New Richmond, Wisconsin to be closer to their daughter, Nola. Burton went to be with his Lord on Saturday, November 24, 2012 while under the care of Adoray Hospice at Deerfield Gables at the age of 91 years and five months.

Burton is survived by his wife, Dorothy; children, Marlene (Lyle) Erickson of Waterloo, IA, Nola (Klaus) Lebrecht of New Richmond, WI, Bruce (Brenda) Blair of Welch, Minnesota; brother-in-law, Donald Allston, Seattle, Washington; 14 grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren; and brother, Bailey of Winnebago, MN. He was preceded in death by his parents; infant brother; sisters, Beryl (1986) and Bethel (2009).

Blessed be the memory of Burton F. Blair.

Memorials are preferred to the First Presbyterian Church of Luverne, MN.

The public is invited to join the family for the committal at Bass Lake Cemetery near Winnebago, MN at 3:30 PM.