Tracy Birdsey

TRACY GRANT BIRDSEY was born the second of five children to Ernest and Betty (Pederson) Birdsey on September 8, 1949 in Luverne, Minnesota. While he was young, Tracy’s dad entered the United States Air Force. As his father’s orders changed every three years, Tracy was raised in various places growing up. During his youth, Tracy loved sports and lettered in basketball, football and baseball. Entering his senior year of schooling, Tracy’s family moved to Rapid City, South Dakota where his dad was stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base. Tracy attended and graduated from Douglas High School where he was elected Sweetheart King. He also met his high school sweetheart, Deanene Greer, that senior year. The couple eloped and later celebrated their marriage at the Baptist Church in Luverne on September 16, 1967. Tracy decided to further his education and attended Mankato State University in Mankato, Minnesota where he was interested in being a biology teacher and a coach in the future. Prior to finishing school, the couple moved to Bellevue, NE where Tracy began a 13-year employment with Wells Fargo installing alarm systems. They later moved to Texas, first Houston and then San Antonio, where he worked in alarm system sales. In 1988, Tracy moved back to Luverne where he and Deanene divorced. Eventually, Tracy started into trucking for various companies. In 2010, he retired from Lakeville Motor Express (LME). He enjoyed his retirement and stayed busy playing golf as much as he could. In 2015, he moved to Shakopee, Minnesota. On Tuesday, November 5, Tracy suffered a heart attack. He died on Thursday, November 7, 2019 surrounded by family at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, Minnesota at the age of 70 years, 1 month and 29 days.

Tracy always had a passion for competition and was a formidable opponent, first with games like Twister and Scrabble when he was little with his siblings and friends and later Trivial Pursuit and any type of sporting activity, especially golfing. He was interested in politics and debating about the inequities of our world. He was a good cook, enjoyed problem solving and doing his own car repairs. He loved cheering on the Nebraska Cornhuskers and Tiger Woods.

Tracy will be remembered by his children, Benjamin Birdsey of Merrimack, NH, Brook (Kevin) Barnhart of Luverne, Matthew Birdsey from “on the road, USA” and Breanna (Benton) Kodet of Redwood Falls, MN; grandchildren, Megan Westrum, Kameron Keene and Brogen Kodet; siblings, Vanessa Birdsey of Shakopee, Garth Birdsey of Salisbury, NC, Kristine Foslein of St. Paul, MN and Jan Birdsey (Jack Spier) of Tampa, FL; former wife, Deanene Greer of Luverne; and other family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Memorials preferred to Luverne Country Club.