Fred Hood passed away peacefully in his home on April 8, surrounded by his loving and devoted wife and family. Fred was born September 28, 1935 in Marion, S.D., to Lon and Mary (Way) Hood. He was one of nine children.
He was preceded in death by his son Joseph, parents, and siblings Lon Jr., Jim (Helen), Roberta Fisher, Mary Helen Seis, and Kay Kincer.
Fred is survived by his wife Lajla, daughter Laura Hood Beckman (Keith) and son Tim (Shannon) Hood, grandchildren Dasan (Christina), Teagan (Nathan), Grace, Ian, and great-granddaughter Charlie. He is also survived by his sister Sylvia Winfield, Granite City Ill., brothers Wallace (Nancy) and Pat (Gwen) of New London, Minn., along with many nieces and nephews and sister-in-law Jan Hood.
Fred married Lajla Hellickson at Big Grove Lutheran church outside of Belgrade, Minn., on August 11, 1962. He served his country in the U.S. Army from 1955-1957. Most of his service was at a Mountain Cold Weather Command in Colorado where he learned to ski– an activity he and Lajla enjoyed together. Fred was employed in the telephone industry for more than 30 years and was an active member of the Communications Workers of America labor union. He held a strong belief that workers should be paid a fair salary and benefits, including health care coverage, for their contributions toward the success of their employer. Following retirement, he worked for M&M Bus Service in Annandale, enjoying the children and his co-workers each day. His true vocational passion was that of a farmer. He and Lajla raised their family on a small farm outside of South Haven, Minn., where he was able to grow crops, fix endless fences, tend to livestock, and marvel daily at the natural world before him.
Fred was a man of faith. He was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church for more than 50 years, serving on the Cemetery Committee and as Cemetery Superintendent for more than a decade. He volunteered at Pioneer Park in Annandale, mowing lawn and helping with events. Fred’s volunteer work in the church and community was very rewarding and important to him.
Fred enjoyed horses. He loved driving a cart, buggy or cutter with his Morgan horse “Red,” who was a faithful companion for almost twenty years. He made many trips to the Waverly Horse Auction in Iowa with Lajla or his brother Pat. He also enjoyed hunting waterfowl with his dad, brothers and nephews in North Dakota. Fred’s wooded farm was the family deer hunting location each fall, with extended family joining in the camaraderie. Fred appreciated and listened to classical, gospel and bluegrass music. He and Lajla would attend bluegrass festivals and late in life he took guitar, banjo, and violin lessons.
Fred and Lajla traveled the country extensively with their motorhome over the past 25 years, spending many winters in Casa Grande, Ariz., at Sundance RV Resort, where they enjoyed many new friendships with people from all over the United States and Canada.
More than anything, he loved time with his family. Any gathering that included his immediate or extended family brought him great joy.
A celebration of Fred’s life will be held at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Annandale on Wednesday, April 30 at 11 a.m. with a visitation beginning at 10. Lunch will be served immediately after the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials to Annandale Pioneer Park or the St. John’s Cemetery Committee are preferred.