Breckenridge - Orville H. Kruschke, 84, died Sunday, November 9, 1997 at Fargo, ND.
Funeral services were held Friday, November 14 at 2 p.m. at the United Methodist Church in Breckenridge with Pastor Terry Tilton officiating. Casketbearers were his grandchildren, Blair, John, Keith, Chris, Eric and Sean Kruschke and John Kelley. Honorary casketbearers were his grandchildren, Karla (Kruschke) Litch, Kelly Ann Kruschke and Alicia and Jenna Kelley and his great-grandchildren, John Jr, Nadine and Sophia Kruschke and Brian and Kalena Litch. Interment was at Riverside Cemetery in Breckenridge. The Joseph Vertin & Sons Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
Orville H. Kruschke was born March 17, 1913 at New Ulm, MN, to Otto and Ellen (Kieke) Kruschke. As a youth he moved with his family to a farm near Fairfax where he attended country school. In 1932 the family purchased a farm east of Breckenridge. He farmed with his family and was also employed as a bulk truck driver for Farmer's Union Oil Company of Fairmount, ND.
On December 9, 1939 he married Myrtle May Osborne. They purchased and lived on the family farm for eight years. Orville was active in farming, trucking grain and livestock and as an officer for the Minnesota Farmer's Union.
In 1947 Orville helped form the Breckenridge Farmer's Union Oil Company and was the station's first manager. In 1950 Orville accepted a position with Farmers Union Oil Central Exchange in St. Paul as a farm machinery blockman for Minnesota and eastern North Dakota. Orville sold and serviced Co-op/Cockshutt farm machinery for local Farmer's Union Oil Companies. In September of 1962 he and his family moved to Thief River Falls where he was the district supervisor for Farmer's Union Central Exchange for nine years. In 1971 Orville and Myrtle moved to Morris. Orville was district propane manager for Farmer's Union Central Exchange (now Cenex/Land O'Lakes), a position he held until his retirement in 1978.
Orville and Myrtle moved back to Breckenridge in 1982 where they built a retirement home. They were active in their retirement with Breckenridge Senior Citizen's Club, Rotary Club and the United Methodist Church. Myrtle preceded him in death on May 28, 1990. Orville continued to live in Breckenridge.
He is survived by three sons, Delwin (Beverly) of Ramsey, Merle of Nevis and Marlyn (Peg) of Sauk Rapids; one daughter, Jolene (David) Kelley of Littleton, CO; eleven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; three sisters, Amy (Franklin) Woodworth of Spokane, WA, Lyla Steger of Plymouth and Lois (Chester) Nordby of Moorhead; one brother, Marvin (Joyce) of Odessa, TX; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to his wife, Orville was preceded in death by his parents; one daughter, Gayle; one grandson, Brian; two brothers; and two sisters.