Obituary of Charles Henry Porter

Charles Henry "Bud" Porter, 88, Mahtowa, died Monday, May 31, 2004 in Mercy Health Care Center, Moose Lake. He was born April 4, 1916 in Bellingham, MN, the oldest of seven children born to Roy Frank and Sophia (Zuelke) Porter. Bud was a 1934 graduate of Bellingham High School. He worked in the CCC camps until 1940. Bud married Kathleen Hecker on November 30, 1940. After his marriage, he worked on his farm east of Mahtowa and at the Mahtowa Co-op Feed Store. In 1960, he went to work for the Minnesota State Highway Department and worked at the Carlton and Floodwood Truck Stations and retired in 1981 as a Sub Area Supervisor. Each year, Bud spent many hours in the woods cutting a supply of wood for the winters. He enjoyed camping, fishing and playing cards with his family, grandchildren and friends. Bud was an avid cribbage player and played each morning with a local group of friends until he went into the nursing home. He was a member of Salem Lutheran Church where he served on the church council. Bud also served on the Mahtowa School board for several years. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Kathleen, on February 9, 2001; his parents; three brothers, Gerald, Loren and Grant; three sisters, Birdelle Schake, Velma Winkiewicz and Frances Porter and a an infant granddaughter, Penny Porter. Bud is survived by two sons, Ronnie of Barnum and Chuck (Pam) of Mahtowa; two daughters, Gloria (Douglas) Soukkala of Mahtowa and Sharon (Philip) Nelson of Cambridge; 15 grandchildren and 26 great grandchildren. Funeral services were held on Friday, June 4, 2004 in Salem Lutheran Church, Mahtowa. Interment was in Mount Salem Cemetery, Mahtowa.