Earl Blackwelder

Memorial services for Earl Blackwelder, of Chokio, Minnesota, will be held Saturday, May 7, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Chokio, with Reverend Eric Rundquist officiating. Visitation will be Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Chokio and for one hour prior to services at the church on Saturday. Burial will be at Chokio Lutheran Cemetery.

Earl Glen Blackwelder was born on June 14, 1938 to Walter and Darline (Braman) Blackwelder in Graceville, Minnesota. He was baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church in Chokio and graduated from Chokio High School with the class of 1955. After graduation, Earl worked for Kenny Asmus Construction until he was able to transition to dairy farming full time.

On February 16, 1963, Earl married Andrea Rixe in Graceville and the two were blessed with two sons. Earl instilled a strong work ethic in his sons from an early age. He enjoyed spending time with his kids and grandkids on the farm, and also attending their extracurricular activities, including his son’s wrestling matches and horse shows, and later, his grandkids’ 4-H events and Little League games. Earl took pride in his family, and if asked, he would say his biggest accomplishment was having been able to see five generations on his family dairy farm.

Earl enjoyed hunting and fishing, but did not like losing to Andrea at bowling. He was a member of the Chokio-Alberta School Board and the board of the Chokio Equity Exchange. Earl and Andrea enjoyed traveling to Arizona in the winter for a few years. He served as head usher for Our Savior’s Lutheran Church for 23 years and participated in the Chokio Community Picnic for over three decades.

Earl passed away Friday, April 29, 2022, at his home in Chokio; he was 83 years old.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife: Andrea Blackwelder of Chokio; two sons: Mark (Amy) Blackwelder of Chokio and Jason Blackwelder of Marion, South Dakota; 3 grandchildren: Brett (Callie) Blackwelder of Chokio, Katelyn (Kelly) Engquist of West Fargo, North Dakota, Kent Blackwelder of Chokio; 3 great-grandchildren: Lyla Blackwelder, Max Blackwelder, and Kennedy Engquist; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Greta Blackwelder, Maynard Erickson, Roger Rixe and Marie Rixe. He was preceded in death by his parents; sister and brother-in-law, Arloa and Jim Ironside; brother, Gene Blackwelder; sister, Arline Erickson;  mother-in-law and father-in-law, Mary and Max Rixe.

IN LIEU OF FLOWERS THE FAMILY PREFERS MEMORIALS TO BE GIVEN IN EARL’S NAME TO OUR SAVIOR’S LUTHERAN CHURCH.

Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris is in care of arrangements for Earl.