Daniel Benjamin Drury

Daniel Drury, age 69, passed away peacefully on Sunday, November 17, 2019 at his home in Foreston, Minnesota after a 2-month battle with Esophageal Cancer.  Memorial Services will be held Saturday, November 23, 2019 at 11 AM at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Milaca.   Visitation will be held from 9:30 – 11 AM at the church on Saturday.  Burial with military honors will follow at Graceland Cemetery, Ogilvie.   In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.   

Dan was born July 15, 1950 in St. Cloud, Minnesota to William and Lucille (Braun) Drury.  He grew up in the Milaca area where he attended Elementary School at St. Anthony’s Parochial in St. Cloud, then to a one-room Country School northwest of Milaca and Milaca High School.

In 1968, Dan enlisted in the U.S. Army and served Combat Duty in places like Da Nang, Vietnam keeping our UH-1 helicopters in the air.  After returning home in 1970, Dan worked at various employers around the area, including the Foreston Sawmill, Skelly Station, St. Cloud Poultry House, and Fingerhut.  In 1972, he married Susan Dahlberg, and moved to Hutchinson.  There he worked for Carr Flowers Greenhouse and Frederickson’s Well-Drilling during which time he drilled domestic and irrigation wells. After 5 years they moved back to Foreston in 1978 where they raised two children. 

He retired from Federal Cartridge in Anoka after 33 years of employment as a Maintenance Mechanic.    Dan excelled at welding and machining.  He owned a successful welding and machine shop where numerous people in the area brought farm machinery and equipment to Dan for repair.  He thought of his shop as his hobby and enjoyed the opportunity to find a solution to fix anything. He ministered to those around him by showing integrity, hard work, and compassion.  He appreciated showing his Gas Engines at Threshing Shows and the comradery that came along with it.  He could always be found attending his grandchildren’s numerous activities. 

Dan was an active member of the Milaca American Legion and served as a Trustee for St. Paul’s Lutheran Church.

He is survived by his wife, Susan; daughter, Sherry (Chad) Muehlbauer of Big Lake;  son, Craig Drury of Elk River;  grandchildren, Taylor and Bailey Muehlbauer;  brother, Richard (Linda) Drury of Vancouver, WA; sister-in-law, Patricia Drury of Sebeka; sisters, Kathy (John) Seira of Princeton and Susan (Michael) Patton of Champlin; as well as many nieces and nephews.

Dan was preceded in death by his parents, William and Lucille; and brother, David Drury.

The family would like to thank the nursing staff of St. Croix Hospice for the compassionate care they gave to Dan in his final days.