Wendell Soper

Wendell Soper, age 87, of Fosston, MN, passed away on Sunday (March 8th) at Pioneer Memorial Care Center in Erskine, MN. Funeral services will be held on Friday, March 13th at 2:00 PM at Hope Lutheran Church in Fosston with Rev. Paul Magelssen officiating. Visitation will be held on Thursday from 5:00 to 7:00 PM with a prayer service at 7:00 PM at Carlin-Hoialmen Funeral Home in Fosston, and there will also be reviewal for one hour before the funeral at the church. Interment will be at the Bagley City Cemetery in Bagley, MN and the Carlin-Hoialmen Funeral Home of Fosston is in charge of the arrangements. Sympathy messages may be sent to www.carlinhoialmen.com.Wendell Loring Soper was born on April 21, 1922 in Nora Township, rural Bagley, MN to Henry and Hilma (Widmark) Soper. Wendell grew up on the family farm near Bagley, attended Woodside School near Bagley through the 8th grade and graduated from Bagley High School in 1940. Following high school, Wendell attended welding school in Glenwood, MN and then farmed with his father raising grain and clover.In 1943 Wendell married Phyllis Boyer of Bemidji, MN. They lived on the family farm until moving to Fosston, MN in 1952. Wendell owned and operated the J. I. Case Dealership in Fosston from 1950 to 1978. Wendell loved farming and working with farm machinery. He was well known for his knowledge and helpfulness to others sorting out and solving many machinery "breakdowns". The Case Company awarded Wendell several trips to Florida and the Bahama Islands during those years.Wendell was a longtime member of the Fosston Rotary Club, never missing their Thursday noon meetings. He was an avid bowler on the Rotary bowling team and for several years sponsored his own bowling team. Wendell was one of the early members of the Lake Itasca Region Pioneer Farmers Inc. organization.During Wendell's many years of growing up, living, and working in the Bagley and Fosston area, he made many friends and enjoyed years of visiting and social activities with everyone he met. Wendell especially enjoyed the fall hunting season when many of his lifetime friends would gather at his farm to hunt.On Sunday evening, March 8, 2009, Wendell passed away with family at his side at Pioneer Memorial Care Center in Erskine, MN at the age of 87 years.Survivors include his wife, Phyllis of 65 years; daughters, Shirley (Gene) Husel of Winston-Salem, NC, Carol (Edwin) Lowell of Stillwater, MN, Donna (Kenneth) Olson of Madison, WI, Holly (Peter) Meyer of Apple Valley, MN, and Bonnie (Thomas) Montgomery of West St. Paul, MN; eleven grandchildren; and three great grandchildren.He was preceded in death by his parents; one granddaughter, Laura Ann Husel; and his sister, Bernice Erickson.