John Renié "Sonny" Reuter

John's full obituary from The Pilot-Independent, Walker, MN, is displayed below:

John Renie Reuter

died Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2001, at Birchwood Nursing Home in Forest Lake, Minn. He was born in Cass Lake, Minn., to John and Fern Reuter. He graduated from Cass Lake High School in 1943, attended Bemidji State College, and worked on a Great Lakes iron ore boat and for the U.S. Forestry Service before opening his own Hartz Grocery Store in Cass Lake in 1950, located on First Street across from the old Boston Hotel. In 1960 he opened a larger store on Main Street. He retired from the grocery business in 1983.

He married Monica Dugas in August 1946, and they raised seven children in Cass Lake. He was a member of the Cass Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, Cass Lake Lions, a city councilman and Cass Lake Board member, a volunteer fire fighter, charter member of the Cass Lake Dance Club, and a member of St. Charles Catholic Church. In 1988, John and Monica moved to the Twin Cities.

He is survived by his wife Monica of 54 years; three sons, Jim (Pat) of Plymouth, John of Walker, Tom of Cass Lake; four daughters, Carol (Jim) Trudeau of Inver Grove Heights, Mary Jo (Jim) Mickelson of Center City, Marlene (Kermit) Erickson of Bemidji, and Michelle (Damon) Showen of Centerville; one sister, Yvonne (Claude Ellis); one uncle, Robert Labelle; 24 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and two grandchildren, Joseph Reuter and Courtney Reuter.

Mass of Christian Burial was held Jan. 6, 2001 at St. Charles Catholic Church. Interment was at Pine Grove Cemetery.

Thomas-Dennis Funeral Home of Cass Lake handled arrangements.