Gary ElRoy Kruse, 71, St. Augusta

November 15, 1948 – June 13, 2020

Gary ElRoy Kruse, 71, of St. Augusta, MN died Saturday, June 13, 2020 at the St. Cloud Hospital, St. Cloud, MN.

Due to the COVID 19 pandemic services will be held at a later date. Funeral arrangements were made by Benson Funeral Home, St. Cloud, MN.

Gary was born November 15, 1948 in Decorah, Iowa to George and Donna (Tollefsrud) Kruse. He graduated from Mabel High School, Mabel, MN in 1966 and attended Upper Iowa University. Gary married Eloise Norland on September 14, 1968 in Wiota, Wisconsin. He farmed in Iowa and loved showing cattle at the state fair in the early 1960’s. They moved to St. Augusta, MN in 1986. Gary was a very talented craftsman, building numerous log buildings and homes in the area, where he was able to apply his eye for perfection and talent. He was an outdoorsman, loved canoeing, fishing, hunting, water skiing, camping, bird watching, cars, tractors and motorcycles. He was a member of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, St. Cloud, MN.

Survivors include his wife, Eloise Kruse of St. Augusta, MN; son, Tim (Heidi) Kruse of Brooklyn Center, MN; daughter, April (John) Olmscheid of St. Cloud, MN; brothers, Robert (Priscilla) Kruse of Wayzata, MN; Geoff (Mary) Kruse of Decorah, IA; sister, Lynee (John) Casper of The Villages, FL.

He was preceded in death by his parents and mother-in-law and father-in-law Donald and Iola Norland