Gary Goodno

Wednesday, March 5, 2025 7:59 am

Gary Luther Goodno, 83, of Hesper, passed away peacefully at home on Feb.11, 2025.

Born on Sept. 8, 1941, in Spring Grove, Minnesota, to Olaf and Selma (Morken) Goodno, he was the youngest of six children. Gary grew up in Highlandville, Bee, and Hesper, spending time as a teenager working at Bergsgaard Farms south of Spring Grove during the summer. In 1959 he graduated from Mabel High School and then attended the Minnesota School of Business in Minneapolis, MN.

Gary married Darlene Mae Fossum at Harmony Methodist Church on Feb. 10, 1962. Together, they had two children: a daughter, DeAnn, and a son, Shawn. Gary and Darlene lived in Hesper all their married life, originally in a trailer they bought and had at Gary’s parents’ homestead in Hesper. Later they moved down the street, to their current residence, in a home they purchased and moved from Cresco to Hesper, and then renovated together.

After business school, Gary worked briefly at Decorah Bank before joining the Fred Carlson Company, where he spent 40 years of his career. At Carlson’s he worked in the office handling a variety of tasks, including invoicing for the company’s ready-mix plants and helping to implement an electronic billing system. He retired in 2003.

Though Gary was a quiet man, he enjoyed staying busy in many ways. For many years, he participated in a bowling league, a dart league, and volunteered his accounting skills to his church. He often worked on projects around the house or in his shed, sometimes producing woodworking pieces or making improvements around the house. Gary enjoyed listening to country music, including talent like Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, the Statler Brothers, and local talents like the Country Cousins. He loved watching football and Sprint car racing, whether on TV or in person. Gary rarely missed a Vikings game or Nascar race, and he enjoyed attending dirt track races in Knoxville, IA, and throughout the Midwest. He became an avid breadmaker, always keeping a stock of ‘Gary’s Buns’ around the house or baking a fresh batch for his contribution to family gatherings. He played countless games of freecell on his computer or Ipad. Gary loved his wife, children, and grandchildren, always anticipating and enjoying any sized family gathering.

Gary and Darlene enjoyed traveling. During their working years, they frequently visited Branson, Missouri to escape the Iowa winters. Other notable destinations included Nashville, New Orleans, Canada, South Carolina, Mississippi, and many other southern and eastern states. For nearly 40 years they enjoyed their place near Mille Lacs Lake, north of Garrison, MN. They spent nearly every summer weekend there. Later, in retirement, they would spend several weeks at a time. In 2022, Gary and Darlene, along with their children and grandchildren, enjoyed a family trip to the Black Hills, including visits to Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Devils Tower, Deadwood, and the Badlands.

Gary is survived by his wife of 63 years, Darlene; his children, DeAnn (Michael) Christopher of Decorah and Shawn (Sara) Goodno of Knoxville; five grandchildren, Cody (Kellie Lyman) Christopher of Minneapolis Minn., Nicholas (Brittany Allen) Christopher of Bluffton, Micayla Christopher of Decorah, Brady Goodno of Knoxville, and Riley Goodno of Knoxville; one brother, George (Beverly) Goodno of Asbury, IA; and several nieces and nephews.

Gary was preceded in death by his parents, Olaf and Selma; and four siblings, Ragna Hillard, Norma Welper, Solon Goodno, and Roger Goodno; a brother-in-law, Reginald Welper; and nephew, Thomas Hillard.

A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 22, at the Hesper Lutheran Church. Visitation will be from 12:30 to 2 p.m., prior to the service at the church. The Mengis Funeral Home in Mabel is assisting with arrangements.