Darrel Rathbun — Brainerd
Darrel Sanford Rathbun, 96, of Brainerd, Minn., and formerly of Spring Valley, died Friday, June 3, 2016.
He was born on a farm northeast of Spring Valley on July 3, 1919. He was the third of six sons born to Arthur and Alvina Rathbun.
Darrel graduated from Spring Valley High School in 1937 and worked at the Spring Valley Creamery before serving in the Marines during WWII from March 31, 1942, to Oct. 18, 1944. He was very grateful and honored to have had the opportunity to go on the WWII Honor Flight in 2011.
He loved sports, including the Minnesota Twins, and was involved in starting the little league program in Spring Valley. He loved to fish, play cards, and to spend winters in Arizona. He was active in his church and family was very important to him.
On March 31, 1948, he married Carrie Elizabeth Wallace (Beth) and moved to Spring Valley in 1949. He farmed and began a career at IBM in Rochester in 1957, and retired in 1983. Beth passed away in 1992. Darrel married Suzanne Erickson on Sept. 4, 1993, and moved to Brainerd, Minn.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Beth, and his four brothers: Loren, Rollin, Ralph and Ross.
He is survived by his wife, Suzanne, his two sons: Larry of Syracuse, N.Y., David (Dianne) of Oshkosh, Wis., a daughter, Linda (Ron) Sauer of La Crosse, Wis., a foster daughter, Cheri (Dennis) Baugh of Grand Meadow, Minn., two stepdaughters: Phyllis Erickson of Apache Junction, Ariz., and Sharon Endersbee of Sandringham, Australia, one stepson, Steven (RayAnn) Erickson of Brainerd, Minn., 10 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren. Darrel is also survived by one brother, Lawrence "Mick" (Irma) Rathbun of Spring Valley.
Funeral Services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, June 10, at Faith United Methodist Church in Spring Valle, with the Rev. David Lieder officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior at the church. Burial will be held at the Spring Valley Cemetery. Following the service, please join the family for a light lunch at the church.
Condolences may be left at www.hindtfuneralhomes.com.