Gayle T. Trehus, age 76, of Litchfield, MN, died on Monday, November 16, 2009, at his home in rural Litchfield, MN. A memorial service will be held at 3:30 PM on Saturday, November 21, 2009 at the Anderson Chemical Training Center, 511 South Hubbard Avenue, Litchfield, MN.
Gayle Thomas Trehus, the son of Thomas and Genora (Tollefsrud) Trehus, was born on June 27, 1933 in Spring Grove, MN. He moved to Litchfield with his family in 1949 and graduated from Litchfield High School in 1951. Gayle was living in Minneapolis when he was drafted into the U.S. Army. He served 2 years in the Army Medial Core while being stationed in Germany and Lebanon. Gayle was united in marriage to Elizabeth Stauch in Groton, South Dakota on August 1, 1959. Together Gayle and Betty lived in Minneapolis for a few years before moving to Litchfield, where he farmed with his family. Gayle worked for the Litchfield School District for many years as a custodial technician before becoming the owner and operator of Shine Floor Care, a cleaning service that served Central Minnesota. He was a member of the Litchfield United Church of God and the Litchfield V.F.W. He enjoyed playing community baseball in Litchfield, watching the Minnesota Twins and Vikings sports teams and being involved in the Shine Floor Care business after his retirement.
Gayle is survived his wife Betty Trehus of Litchfield, MN; children Terry Justin of Cambridge, MN, Robert Trehus of Willmar, MN, Susan Calvin of Grove City, MN, Stuart Trehus of Litchfield, MN and Lauretta Trehus of Willmar, MN; 17 grandchildren; 1 step-great granddaughter; a sister Harriett (and Bjarne) Kvingedal of Fort Lauderdale, Florida; and many nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents Thomas and Genora; and a sister Genevieve Folden.