Willard Lewis Ferguson

illard L. Ferguson, age 100, of Litchfield died Monday morning, September 5, 2011 at the Lakeside Care Center in Dassel. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM on Thursday, September 8, 2011 at the St. Paul's Lutheran Church with Pastor Paul Lindhorst officiating. Visitation will be from 11:30 until 1:00 PM Thursday at the church. Interment will be in the Lake Ripley Cemetery in Litchfield. Willard Lewis Ferguson, the son of Charles and Bertha (Meili) Ferguson, was born in a farmhouse north of Breckenridge , MN on January 28, 1911. In 1919 the family moved to a farm near Manannah. A few years later they moved north of Paynesville to farm. In 1926, they moved to a large dairy farm in Lake Henry Township. Willard graduated from Paynesville High School in 1929. He farmed with his father for two years after graduating. The depression forced Willard's family out of farming and he moved to St. Cloud and worked various jobs for the next few years. In 1933, he started selling cars for Fearing Motor Co., a job he held for seven years. During this time he attended night school at Dews Business College. On August 23rd, 1937 he was united in marriage to Viola Hoffman at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in St. Cloud. They had two children, daughter Betty was born in 1939 and son John was born in 1945. In 1940, Willard joined Allis-Chalmers Farm Equipment as a Factory Rep., working with A-C dealers in eight counties. He held this position for 32 years. In 1952, he was transferred to the Litchfield territory and he moved his family here in 1953. They joined the St. Paul's Lutheran Church and he has been an active member ever since. He served on the building committee when the parsonage was built and again when the Sunday School Building was built. He was on the original Endowment committee and served as Auditor for over 30 years. In 1972, he retired from Allis-Chalmers but, continued calling on all farm equipment dealers all over northern Minnesota for another 14 years as an independent factory rep. Willard also sold for Custom Products and other short lines. He bought and sold real estate during the 70's and 80's. During those years he served on the Litchfield Planning Commission for 12 years and as a layman member of the 12th Dist. Attorney's Ethics Committee for 6 years. He is survived by his son John (and Marilyn) Ferguson of Venice Florida, 4 grandchildren; Jill (and Zach) Rogness, Jodi (and Chad) Henriksen, Scott Taylor and Lisa (and Pete) Fuette, 9 great grandchildren; Nora, Reis, Evelyn, Maretta, Winston Lewis, Anni, Ole, Alex, and Jesse. He is also survived by son-in-law Charles Taylor of Florida, many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife Viola, daughter Betty and 3 brothers. Previous Events Visitation Thursday, September 8, 2011 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM St. Paul's Lutheran Church 227 South Ramsey Litchfield, MN 55355 Visitation Thursday, September 8, 2011 1:00 PM - 1:45 PM St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church 227 South Ramsey Litchfield, MN 55355 Visitation Thursday, September 8, 2011 1:45 PM Riplely Cemetery 316 Sibley Avenue South Litchfield, MN 55355