Gary Monson, 79, of Granite Falls, died Sunday, August 23rd at his residence. Memorial services will be held on Saturday, August 29th at 11 am at Granite Falls Lutheran Church. Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the church on Saturday.
Memorials preferred to Rice Hospice or the Granite Falls Lutheran Church.
Gary Lee Monson was born on November 2, 1935, the first child to Lyle and Avis Monson. He was born at his grandmother’s home by Hazel Run, Minnesota. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran religion and Gary remained a Christian man in character and thought.
In 1955 he married Elaine Adele Dagel in Hanley Falls. God blessed them with six children: Debra Monson, Granite Falls, Christine (Wayne) Neiman, Rogers; Laurie (Thomas) Aus, Granite Falls; Bradley (Tracy) Monson, Granite Falls; Kathleen Monson (special partner James Kalb) Shorewood; and Andrew (Jennifer) Monson, Granite Falls. To these unions we were gifted with 17 grandchildren and 19 great-grand babies and another one soon.
Gary attended Minnesota School of Business and spent the rest of his working days as owner of Monson Motors in Granite Falls, Minnesota after purchasing the business from his father. He was proud of his business and eventually Bradley and Andrew joined him.
On his retirement he sold his business and started to travel with Elaine. They traveled most of the western and some eastern European countries: Italy, France, Germany, Russia, Croatia, Estonia, Italy, Turkey, Greece, Santorina and other Greek Islands, Norway and Sweden. He also traveled to Israel and Egypt which was a totally inspiring experience. They took family trips to Puerto Rico, Mexico and Disney World. He was planning a trip to China but it never came to pass.
He loved to hunt and fish and spend time at the lake with family. Gary loved music and listened to Beethoven, Handel and others the last hours of his life because he said it was soothing.
He is survived by his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, his sister Marilyn Appollo of Arizona, John(Katie) Monson of Arizona, Joanne (Patrick) Ohliger of Granite Falls; Thomas (Norma) Monson of Spicer; and Patricia Anderson of Granite Falls and brother-in-law Ken (Kathy) Dagel of Minneapolis.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Lyle and Avis Monson, his in-laws Emery and Agnes Dagel, brothers Wayne, Mark, sister-in-law Laurie Monson, daughter Christine Neiman and grandson Thomas Neiman and many other family loved ones.
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