Herb Vinson

Herbert Clyde Vinson was born March 12, 1937 to Dewey and Cora (French) Vinson in Dante, South Dakota. He grew up there attending school in Avon and later the family moved to Minneapolis where in 1955, Herb graduated from Minneapolis Central High School. In 1956, following his education, he enlisted in the United States Army and served during the Vietnam War. Herb was stationed first in Germany and worked as a military policeman. In 1959, he was deployed to Vietnam and served in the infantry and as a small firearms instructor to the South Vietnamese. While in Vietnam, Herb was injured in combat. In 1965, he was honorably discharged and returned home to Minneapolis, Minnesota. Herb met Doretta Engler in Minneapolis and the couple was united in marriage December 10, 1966 in Camanche, Iowa. Their union was blessed with three children and 50 years of marriage together. The couple moved to Clinton, Iowa for one year and then made their home in Tracy, Minnesota where Herb served in law enforcement. In 1975, they moved to Ruthton, Minnesota, where he served as deputy sheriff in Pipestone County. In 1980, Herb retired and then worked in Tyler as a meat cutter at the Tyler Locker. Following the big storm in 2011, the couple moved from Ruthton to Danebod Village in Tyler. On June 13, 2017, Herb endured a heart attack and entered Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls. Herb’s care continued at the VA Hospital in Sioux Falls where on Monday, July 3, 2017 he died peacefully with his family near on Monday, July 3, 2017 at the age of 80 years.

Herb was a member of Peace Lutheran Church in Ruthton and had served as a past council president. He was a member of the Ruthton Lion’s Club, and served as post commander for 20 years with Woodrow Wilson American Legion Post #506. Herb loved working with children and mentored as Scout Master for Troop 28 in Ruthton for 40 years. Herb shared his knowledge of firearms and was a firearms safety instructor for many years. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, and especially enjoyed time spent with his family and friends.

Herb is lovingly remembered by his wife, Doretta Vinson of Tyler, Minnesota; sons, Arthur (and Diane) Vinson of Brandon, Minnesota, George (and Danielle) Vinson of Harwood, North Dakota; two grandchildren, Elizabeth and Christopher; a sister, Alice (and Verlyn) Betz of Lebanon, Oregon; and many nieces, nephews, family, and friends. Herb was preceded in death by his daughter, Marion; parents, Dewey and Cora; eight sisters; Wilma Terpening, Vivian Koehn, Violet Grimme, Mary Petrick, Lucille Montgomery, Margaret Haas, Nancy Jenkins, and Della Vinson; and a brother, Baby Boy Vinson.
Blessed and eternal be the memory of Herbert Clyde Vinson.