Earl C. McBride

Obituary

Earl Clarke McBride was born on February 13, 1925, in Hector Township, rural Renville County, Minnesota. He was the son of Clarence and Anna (Witte) McBride. Earl was baptized as an infant on April 19, 1925, and was later confirmed in his faith as a youth on May 28, 1939, by Pastor Krull at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Hector.  He attended rural Renville County schools and graduated from the eighth grade. After finishing school, Earl worked on his family’s farm until he entered the military.

Earl entered active military service in the United States Army on December 13, 1944, and served his country in the Asiatic Pacific Theater in the Philippines and Guam. He received an Honorable Discharge on October 31, 1946, and earned the Asiatic Pacific Theater Ribbon with one bronze battle star, Philippine Liberation Ribbon, Victory Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and a Combat Infantry Badge.

After the service, Earl worked on the family farm and then went to Waukegon, Illinois, where he worked as an auto mechanic from 1956 to 1961. In 1961, he returned to Minnesota to run the farm owned by his uncle, Clarke McBride, in Stewart, Minnesota.

On April 1, 1972, Earl was united in marriage to Lois Minks Kuehn by Pastor Richard Smith at Bethlehem United Methodist Church in Hutchinson. They resided and farmed in rural Stewart and later moved to Hutchinson. Earl and Lois moved to Grand Meadow Senior Living in Glencoe on May 24, 2015. They shared 43 years of marriage until Lois passed away on June 21, 2015.

Earl worked at Green Giant in Glencoe, Minnesota, and also did field work for farmers Richard Hoversten and Alex Lamb until ill health forced his complete retirement on December 31, 1987. Earl was a faithful member of Bethlehem United Methodist Church in Hutchinson. He was also a 70 year member of the American Legion of Hector Post #135, Hutchinson Post #96 and a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of Hutchinson Post #906.

In Earl’s retirement years he had several different hobbies. He made many lovely things out of plastic canvas as gifts for family and friends. He was adept at putting together model cars from a kit. Earl was also an avid Minnesota Twin’s Baseball fan. In later years, Earl and Lois enjoyed traveling, especially road trips. They enjoyed the company of friends and relatives in the afternoons at Hardee’s in Hutchinson. He especially enjoyed spending time with his family and friends.

Earl passed away on Thursday, May 31, 2018, at Grand Meadow Senior Living in Glencoe, at the age of 93 years. Blessed be his memory.

Earl is survived by his:
Sister, Frances Piehl of Howard Lake, MN;
Stepdaughter, Jeri Aydt of Hutchinson, MN;
Step Grandson, Scott Southerland;
Many other relatives and friends.

Earl is preceded in death by his: Wife, Lois McBride; Parents, Clarence and Anna McBride; Stepson, Thomas Kuehn; Step Grandson, Kevin Southerland; Siblings, Donald (Inda) McBride, Gladys (Kermit) Kiecker, Jean McBride, and Ethel Tangness.