Jimmy Eggen

A gathering of family and friends will be held for Jimmy R. Eggen, age 84, of Milaca, on Friday, January 18, 2019 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Milaca American Legion.  There will be a luncheon, but guests are welcome anytime.  Private interment will be held at Brookside Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to a food shelf of your choice. 

Jimmy Russel Eggen was born on September 13, 1934 on the family farm in Page Township, Minnesota to Peter and Vern (Look) Eggen, the fourth of twelve children. He attended Tibbetts Brook country school and graduated from Milaca High School in 1952. He served four years in the United States Air Force as a young man and was united in marriage to Carol Jean Ryan on December 1, 1962. To this union, four children were born: Cindy, Russel, Eric, and Darla.

Jimmy was a bricklayer by trade and a farmer by choice. He was still farming his long-time farmstead south of Bock at the time of his passing. After retiring from bricklaying in the early nineties, he worked many years at Medtronic in Milaca. Jimmy enjoyed gardening, cooking, reading, cutting wood for his wood stoves, creating wood and metal projects, coffee with his weekly visitors, and spending time with his family. His lefse was always the sought after item at family get togethers and he had recently taught himself to make bread and can jam and tomatoes just like Carol’s. He will be dearly missed by all.

He is survived by children, Cindy (Jeff) Hendrickson of Elk River, Russel (Mary) of Princeton, Eric (GeorgeAnn Hauger) of Milaca, and Darla (Lee) Rahe of Zimmerman; 10 grandchildren, Kayla Hendrickson of Morris, Emily Hendrickson of Buffalo, Lindsey Hendrickson of Elk River, Scott (Christina) Eggen of Sartell, Reid Eggen of Sartell, Patrick Eggen of Milaca, Tyler Eggen of Milaca, Leah (Daniel) Jerde of Milaca, Kevin and Ryan Rahe of Zimmerman; 3 great-grandchildren (and 1 on the way), Zayden Jerde of Milaca, Kaylie and Chelsea Eggen of Sartell; brothers, Neil (Mary) of Milaca, Dale (Pam) of Lake Elmo, Gary (Judy) of Milaca, Phillip (Marlene) of Milaca, Don (Patty) of Milaca;  sisters, Marjorie Humphrey of Oakhurst, CA, Karen DePriest of El Cajon, CA, Lorraine (Duane) French of Ogilvie, Joanne (Lloyd) Withers of Blackduck;  sister-in-law, Carol Eggen of Onamia and brothers-in-law, Larry Braaten of Milaca, Roger (Janet) Ryan of Milaca, Brad (Cathy) Ryan of Atoka, OK; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Jimmy was preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Carol, in 2016; his parents, brother, Gene, and sister, Virginia.