Marion “Slim” Sylvester Davidson passed away on Father’s Day, June 20, 2021, at the Spring Valley Care Center, with his wife of 67 years by his side. He was 95 years old. He was born October 6, 1925, to Osmond and Helen (Markham) Davidson. He attended country school north of Spring Valley through the eighth grade. He farmed with his parents, and eventually bought a portable feed mill truck and traveled the area grinding feed for area farmers.
On June 5, 1954, he married Gladys Wright in Fountain, Minn. They made their home by Greenleafton and Marion proudly told of how Gladys was the best help with the feed mill. Eventually they bought a farm of their own north of Spring Valley, Minn. Marion worked for a few years at the John Deere implement in Spring Valley before joining the Construction Laborers Local #405, where he was a member for 59 years. Over the years, he was employed by Floyd Larson Construction, Mortenson, Fraser, O.A. Stocke, and others.
When Marion was not farming or working construction, he enjoyed the outdoors hunting, fishing, or walking in their woods. He was always packed and ready to go on the next fishing trip. He fished in Alaska, Canada, the Boundary Waters, Lake of the Woods, Mille Lacs, even Mexico where he caught barracuda from a panga boat. He also had a love for dogs, and had many special Labrador Retrievers over the years. His faithful companion Bear had been with him for eight years, and even got to visit him while he was at the Care Center.
Marion is survived by his wife Gladys, two children, Roger (Shari) Davidson and Brenda (Matt) Stier all of Spring Valley; five grandchildren: Lyndy (Wayne) Rohe of Centerville, Ohio, Krystal (Pat) Campbell of Stewartville, Dallas Davidson of Spring Valley, Alicia (Brian) Hanenberger of Stewartville, and Amanda (Jeff) Schmidt of Wykoff; 14 great-grandchildren, and a nephew, Gene Ristau of Lakeville, Minn.
Marion was preceded in death by his parents, his sister and brother-in-law Arlene and Roy Ristau, and many hunting and fishing buddies.
Funeral services for Marion will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 26, 2021, at Hindt Funeral Home in Spring Valley. Visitation will be held from 5-8 p.m. on Friday, June 25 at the funeral home and will continue for one hour prior to the service on Saturday. Committal Service will be held at Woodlawn Cemetery in Stewartville, Minn., at 3 p.m. on Saturday.
In lieu of flowers, please buy a license, bait a hook and take a child fishing for the day.
Online condolences may be left at Hindtfuneralhomes.com.
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