Anthony "Tony" Rutz

Anthony “Tony” Rutz, 93 year old resident of rural Randall, MN, passed away on Monday, May 9, 2016 at St. Cloud Hospital surrounded by his loving family. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1 PM on Saturday, May 14, 2016 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Flensburg, MN, with Father Jimmy Joseph officiating. Burial will be at Sacred Heart’s parish cemetery. Visitation will be from 11 AM to 1 PM on Saturday at the church. Arrangements are with Shelley Funeral Chapel in Little Falls, MN. Anthony Joseph Rutz was born on March 9, 1923 in Pike Creek Township, MN to the late Joseph and Anna (Wielinski) Rutz. He grew up in the Flensburg area and attended the local school (District 63) up to the 8th grade. When he was 15 years old, Tony left home with 69 cents in his pocket to find jobs helping with spring planting. He started down south in Kansas, working on farms, and made his way to the north and west, up to the Canadian border. In the fall, he started on the same route, helping with the harvests of wheat, oats and corn. Tony also picked potatoes in the Red River Valley, making up to $39 per day, which was good money at that time. During his breaks from planting and harvesting, he returned to help on his family’s farm. Tony also drove a milk truck and hauled cream cans for Flensburg Creamery. In 1947, he had saved enough money to purchase a 276 acre farm near Randall, in Culdrum Township, MN. Later he purchased more acreage to expand his farm. Tony was a devoted, passionate farmer working many years to make improvements on the farm by logging and clearing the land to expand the acres he could till. He was known for planting the straightest rows of corn, and utilizing every square foot of field, all calculated in his head. Tony also did custom wood cutting and making lumber with his brother, Martin. On April 22, 1950, Tony married Lorraine Fafara in Sacred Heart Catholic Church. They worked together to plant, raise cattle, garden and make improvements to the farm while raising their four children. They celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary in 2015, providing an example of love, faith, and devotion. Both remained on the farm until the time of their deaths. Tony was a life-long member of Sacred Heart Parish and served as an usher and church council member for many years. He also served on the Randall State Bank Board of Directors, serving in that capacity for 21 years. Tony loved nature, playing cards, hunting, fishing, dancing, picnics at Cedar Lake, swinging on his swing, growing and eating sweet corn, eating chocolate, eating Schwann’s ice cream, and talking to his cats. He always had a smile on his face, a joke to share, a helping hand and a kind and gentle spirit. He appreciated what you did for him and never forgot to say thank you. Tony’s catholic faith was very important to him. Prayer, attending Mass and saying the Rosary daily were ways that he lived his faith in God. Tony is survived by his sons, Gregory (Cheryl) and Randy (Kathy) Rutz, both of Randall; daughters, Kathy (Jerry) Pantzke of Rice, MN, and Marilyn (James) Johnson of Kensington, MN; 11 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren, with one more on the way. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Lorraine (December 9, 2015); brothers, Simon, Frank, John and Martin Rutz; sisters, Verna Hlad, Ann Rutz, Suzanne Rutz, Clara Copa, Rose Copa, Leona Yanta and Evelyn Regnell.

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Anthony "Tony" Rutz

March 9, 1923 - May 9, 2016