Gaylen Orgene Krugerud

Gaylen Krugerud passed away Sunday, May 15, 2022, at the Appleton Care Center in Appleton, MN, at the age of 86.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, May 25, 2022, at 1:00 PM at Grace Lutheran Church in Dawson, MN.  Pastor Kendall Stelter will officiate, and burial will be in the church cemetery.

Visitation will be held Tuesday, May 24, 2022, from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM at Hanson & Dahl Funeral Home in Dawson, with a prayer service beginning at 6:30 PM.  Visitation will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Wednesday.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Grace Lutheran Church or the church’s cemetery fund.

Gaylen Orgene Krugerud was born on August 9, 1935, to Helmer and Jennie (Wold) Krugerud. He grew up on various farms in the Dawson and Boyd area and attended country school. He graduated from Dawson High School in 1953.

Gaylen’s first jobs were at Red Owl grocery stores in Dawson and Montevideo. He then attended Brock Barber School, graduating in 1965. Gaylen operated his own barber shop in Eden Valley, MN, until he sold it in 1982. He then worked at various jobs in Dawson, Hutchinson, and Cokato. He retired from the Country Market in Cokato and moved to Hutchinson, where his last residence was at the Evergreen Apartments. While there, he was twice elected King to represent the Evergreen residents in the Hutchinson Water Carnival parade. Gaylen enjoyed visiting with his large extended family. He maintained his membership at Grace Lutheran Church and often drove to Dawson to attend Sunday services.

Gaylen was briefly hospitalized in April 2022 after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of stomach cancer. He moved to the Appleton Care Center on April 28, where he and family members received communion from Pastor Stelter on May 15. He passed away on May 15, 2022.  His caretakers commented on how he maintained his sense of humor and his pleasant personality during a difficult time.

Gaylen was preceded in death by his parents; his sister Beverly Grams; brothers-in-law Carroll Norby, Roger Anderson, Ralph Johnson, and Milo Grams; nephew Tim Krugerud; niece Lynette Fjerkenstad; and special friend, Sharon Garvey.

He is survived by siblings Wyonne Norby, Phyllis Anderson, Stanford (Karen) Krugerud, Bethel (Gary) Olson, and Verdell (Mary) Krugerud, plus many nieces and nephews into third and fourth generations.

Blessed be his memory.