Vernon Magnuson

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Vernon Magnuson, age 95, of Foley, went to meet Jesus peacefully with family by his side on Sunday, August 25, 2024 at The Gardens of Foley. Funeral service will be held Friday, August 30, 2024 at 11:00 AM at New Life Church in Foley, MN. Visitation will be held on Thursday, August 29, from 5-7 PM at New Life Church in Foley and continue one hour prior to the service on Friday. There will be a private family burial.  In lieu of flowers, memorials to the charity of your choice.

Vernon Henning Magnuson was born on March 2, 1929 to Henning and Ruth Magnuson in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He moved to the farm his uncles had built in rural Foley at the age of 5. He attended a one-room schoolhouse through the eighth grade and graduated from Foley High School in 1947. He worked with his father on the family farm and was released from the draft for the Korean War to keep the family farm running.

Vernon married the love of his life, Mabel Ryckman, from Pollock, SD on June 29, 1957. They had 3 daughters, Lori, Sara and Carla, and raised them on the farm. Vernon continued farming in various forms, and he and Mabel lived on the family farm until 2018, when they moved to their new home on Carla and Scott’s farm closer to Foley.

Vernon was always active in his local church, and he loved to sing in the choir and a men’s quartet. Hymns were always his favorite. He was a man of strong Christian faith, and he displayed this in his everyday life, passing on a great spiritual heritage to his descendants. He always kept busy with woodworking, visiting shut-ins, working as a church custodian, teaching Bible classes, and serving in church leadership. He loved playing games and working on jigsaw puzzles. He enjoyed helping his sons-in-law with whatever projects they were working on, and he helped his grandchildren with woodworking and school projects. His kind and gentle spirit was known by everyone who knew him, even the farm animals.

Vernon was preceded in death by his parents, brother Ray, sisters Lois and Gladys, and also a child, grandchild, and great-grandchild who went to be with Jesus before they were born into this world. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Mabel, daughters Lori (Doug) Lezer of Sauk Rapids, Sara (Mark) Chmielewski of Superior, Wisconsin, Carla (Scott) Johnson, Foley, grandchildren Ryan (Nicole) Lezer, Cody (Jenny) Lezer, Amy (Ben) Hageman, Michael (Alyssa) Chmielewski, Katherine (Kelsey) Oldenkamp, John (Desiree) Chmielewski, Shelby (Alex) Reimers, Riley (Dan) Marod, Colby (fiancé Madi), and Gabrielle Johnson, great-grandchildren Kyla, Leddy and Roux Lezer, Lydia, Logan and Dylan Lezer, Caden and Rowan Hageman, Vernon Chmielewski, and four great-grandchildren are expected in the coming months. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.