Larry Milton

Larry Edward Milton was born on September 6, 1946 in Saint Cloud, Minnesota to Bruce Edward and Bertha Marie Milton. The Milton’s lived in Onamia and Bruce had just been elected to his first term as the Mille Lacs County Sheriff. Larry attended the public school in Onamia and graduated in 1964. He enlisted in the Navy and served three years during the Vietnam War on the destroyer, USS Columbus. Upon his return from the service, he entered Lee Barber School in Minneapolis and became a Master Barber. Larry purchased the Onamia Barber Shop from Harold Jackson and barbered for the next nine years. During this time he was a volunteer for the Onamia Fire Department and Ambulance Service. In 1977 he was appointed as the Civil Defense Director for Benton and Mille Lacs Counties. Larry was later appointed as the Mille Lacs County Zoning Administrator and the Veterans Officer, which he held until he retired in 2002. He also assisted his wife Suzanne at her Off-Sale Liquor business in Onamia when time permitted. Larry has been a life-time Legion member of Post #395 for the past 33 years. In 1979, Larry was elected to the Onamia City Council and in 1987 was elected to the position of Mayor, which he held through this year. During his tenure as Mayor, the city of Onamia completed a number of projects which included building a new fire hall and the purchase of a ladder truck, new water tower and well, upgrading of the waste water system, community center, US highway 169 Soo Line Trail overpass, overlaying of the city streets, sale of the rail road property, the Nexus project and his pet project, and keeping taxes to a minimum. During Larry’s retirement, he spent his mornings reading the daily papers and spending time at the village hall discussing the days activities with the Town Clerk, Kathy McCullum, and the other city employees. Larry enjoyed hunting and fishing with family members and especially winter fishing in recent years with his grandchildren on Shakopee Lake. Larry is survived by his wife, Suzanne of Onamia, MN; sons, Chad (Jessie), Rocky, and Sheldon Milton all of Onamia, MN; step-son, Ronald Beattie, Jr.; step-daughter, Allison McPherson; grandchildren, Shayna, Trevyn, Naomi, Kameron; step-grandchildren, Celest, John Michael, Ryan, Nicholas, and Abigayle; mother, Bertha Milton of Onamia, MN; brothers, Bruce (Mary) Milton of Bloomington & Onamia, MN, Bill (Vicki) Milton of Round Rock, TX; sister, Midge Trutnau of Champlin, MN; and many nieces & nephews. Larry was preceded in death by his father, Bruce E. Milton and brother-in-law, Thomas Trutnau.

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Larry Milton

September 6, 1946 - April 27, 2009