Gene Gelhaye

Gene R. “Red” Gelhaye, 81, Osage, MN, died Saturday, July 18 at the Veterans Administration Hospital, Fargo, ND. Funeral services will be 2:00 PM Friday, July 24 at Shell Lake Immanuel Lutheran Church in rural Osage, Reverends Phil Johnson and  Bob Ford, officiating.  Interment services will be 11:45 AM Monday, July 27 at Ft. Snelling National Cemetery, Ft. Snelling, MN. There will be a time of gathering and sharing of memories Thursday, July 23; 5:00 – 8:00 PM with a prayer service at 7:00 PM at David-Donehower Funeral Home in Detroit Lakes. The visitation will continue at the church one hour prior to the service on Friday.

Gene Russell Gelhaye known as Red, was born February 25, 1928 in Minneapolis, MN to Roy and Stella (Olson) Gelhaye. He was raised and educated in Minneapolis. At the age of 161/2 he enlisted in the U. S. Navy where he was a member of the Seebee’s serving in the South Pacific. He was also a member of the Blue Jacket Chorus which sang for many important military events. Gene received his discharge in 1946 and returned to Minneapolis. He was recalled to active duty where he was assigned to the weather station in Greenland. Gene was united in marriage with Iris Steenson, May 4, 1949 in Minneapolis. Following his second discharge from the Navy, they lived in Minneapolis where he completed his high school education and attended the University Of Minnesota for two years. He was the hardware manager for Mound Hardware in Mound, MN. He was also a member of musical groups “Red and Lil Iris” and “The Country Redheads” which sang at Twin City area night clubs and the Ft. Snelling NCO Club. Red and Iris later divorced. He moved to Fargo, ND where he worked for Knox Lumber Company 1974-1993.

Red was united in marriage with Virginia Stainbrook February 3, 2007 in Detroit Lakes, MN. They made their home on Bass Lake near Osage. He was a 33 year member of AA and was a strong advocate of the AA community. Red enjoyed fishing, cooking, golf, singing, music of all kinds, deer and bird watching. He was also an avid baseball fan having played and coached American Legion Baseball. He was also an avid Minnesota Twins fan.

Survivors include his wife: Ginny Stainbrook of Osage, MN; a son: Geno Galhaye of Columbia Heights, MN; four daughters: Kathy (Gary) Bodick of Coon Rapids, MN; Karen Fowler of Columbia Heights, MN; Kristi Herzog of Anoka, MN; Jean Marie Gelhaye of North Dakota; a step-son: Dale (Pam) Stainbrook of Crookston, MN; four Step-daughters: Deb (Michael) Radi of Champlin, MN; Denise (Rob) Collins of Bloomington, MN; Donna (David) Larson of Crookston, MN; Darla (Darrin) Tucker of Glyndon, MN; five grandchildren: Justin, Jessica, Amber, Tiffany and Kayla; 14 step-grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; a brother: Bob Gelhaye of Minneapolis, MN. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Richard.