Earl Vernon Hamilton, 81
Published 5:27 pm Saturday, January 4, 2014
Earl Vernon Hamilton, 81
Earl Vernon Hamilton, 81, of Dexter, Minn., died suddenly on Monday, Jan. 1, 2014, at Mercy-Gilbert Medical Center, Gilbert, Ariz.
Earl was born on Aug. 16, 1932, at LeRoy, Minn. to Roy Golden and Nora Bell (Felper) Hamilton. Earl was baptized at Central Presbyterian Church in Austin, Minn. He attended school in Adams and Elkton, Minn. He entered the Army in Jan. 1953 and was honorably discharged in October 1954. On June 17, 1956, Earl married Ruth Schwerin at St. John’s Lutheran Church of Elkton.
Earl farmed with his brother Norbert for many years. He had a great love for farming and the auction sale business doing consignment and farm auctions in the area for more than 50 years. Earl sold many years with Jim Eastman, Bus Eastman, Norbert Hamilton and Dean Eastman.
Earl was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church for 57 years and served on the church council. He conducted semi-annual auctions for the Dexter Sun Flower Daze for many years.
Earl and Ruth enjoyed going to Chandler, Arizona in the winter months for several years. They had many special friends in the retirement area of Springfield Park.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Nora Hamilton, two brothers, Norbert and Roy L. Hamilton.
Earl is survived by his wife, Ruth, of 57 years; sisters-in-law: Carol Hamilton (Roy) of Stewartville, Minn.; and Peggy Hamilton Queensland (Norbert), of Elkton; many nephews and nieces; and his partners in the auction sale business, Bill Hilton and Andrew Hamilton.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 8, at St. John’s Lutheran Church of rural Elkton, with the Rev. Liz Erickson officiating. Interment will be at Oakwood Cemetery with military rites by Adams American Legion Post 146. Visitation will be at the Adams Funeral Home on Tuesday from 4 to 7 p.m. and at the church on Wednesday morning for one hour before the service.
Honorary bearers will be Lee Himle, Stan Boles, Darold Sheely, Tom Thorsen, Duane Wigham, and Ray Dietrich.
Casket bearers will be Bill Hilton, Andrew Hamilton, Mark Hamilton, Ron Hamilton, Mike Schneider and Dean Eastman.
Memorials may be given to St. John’s Memorial Fund, Southland Food Shelf, the American Heart Association or the donor’s choice.