George M. Blair, 81

George M. Blair, 81, of Lowry died Saturday, January 30, 2010, at Glacial Ridge Hospital in Glenwood.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, February 3, at Ben Wade Covenant Church, Lowry, with Pastor Ted Graf officiating. Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. on Tuesday at the funeral home, with a prayer service at 6:30 p.m. visitation will resume on Wednesday at the church, one hour prior to the service. Interment will be in Lake Ann cemetery. Arrangements are with Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral Home in Glenwood.

George Milton Blair, the son of Robert and Phoebe (Elsey) Blair, was born on May 8, 1928, in Reno Township in the family home. He attended Rural District 19 and Glenwood Public School. George worshiped at Reno Reformed Presbyterian Church for 40 years, the First Baptist Church in Alexandria for 10 years and Ben Wade Covenant Church in
Lowry for the past 31 years.

George was the third generation Blair to own and operate the home place which is located six miles NW of Glenwood in Reno Township. Though his later years were not spent on the farm, he continued to love and be interested in every detail of its operation where the sixth generation of Blair’s is being raised. On May 23, 1953, George was unitedin marriage to Luverne Everson at Zion Lutheran Church in Hawick. They made their home on the family farm where they raised their four children. In 1989, George and Luverne retired and moved to Lowry. George was a loving husband, father and grandfather, as well as a dedicated farmer. He had many interests including cattle and machinery auctions, raising rat terrier pups, searching for deals, visiting with neighbors and friends and, of course, anything farm related.

George will be remembered for his quiet faith in God and the importance he placed on getting his family to church. He loved to tease and had a quick wit, as well as a strong work ethic. George understood the importance of family loyalty and placed a high value on it. He had a keenly observant eye and liked things kept neat and orderly. George was always up on current events and enjoyed buying and selling equipment. It will come as no surprise to those who knew him to learn that George died while reading a farm magazine.

George is survived by his wife of 56 years, Luverne Blair of Lowry; daughter, Rita (Jeff) Larson of Edina; son, Mark (Joyce) Blair of Lowry; and daughters, Laurie (Doug) Musselman of Lowry and Teri Blair of Minneapolis; nine grandchildren, Curt (Angie) Blair, Renae (Tyrone) Browley,Katie (Kyle) Nichtern, Ruth Musselman, Anna Musselman,
Russ Musselman, Ellie Musselman, Naomi Musselman and Luke Musselman; fi ve great-grandchildren, Clay, Brady and
Kennedy Blair and James and Marshall Nichtern; as well as numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

George was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Ermel, Edward and Dale; and four sisters, Ruth Rosten, Pauline Crozier, Helen Grindy and an infant sister; and a grandson, Ryan Blair.