Joseph Lutgen Jr. received his call to eternal life on January 1, 2020 at the Hendricks Hospital in Hendricks, MN, a week after his 90th birthday. A Mass in celebration of Joe’s life will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, January 10, 2020 at Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Ivanhoe, MN. Burial will be Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Cemetery in Ivanhoe, MN. Visitation will be from 5:00 -7:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 9, 2020 at the Houseman Funeral Home in Hendricks, MN.

Joseph Peter Lutgen Jr. was born on December 25, 1929 in Bonesteel, SD to Carolyn and Joseph Lutgen.

Joe married Maureen Bolger, the love of his life, on September 6, 1961 in Dublin Ireland. In their earlier years, Joe and Maureen enjoyed frequent trips to the Black Hills. His greatest joy in life was spending time with family and grandchildren and making sure he had enough ice cream and peanut M&M’s for everyone. Joe also kept close contact with Maureen’s family in Ireland, England and Australia.

Joe’s life-long call was to the cattle ranch. He raised cattle in “the valley” 7 miles east of White, SD for over 70 years. His family initially homesteaded in Bonesteel, SD before being driven out by drought and grasshoppers. They moved to Canton, then to Flandreau and finally to the White area where they settled. Joe started farming with horses on his father’s farm and could tell many stories about members of those horse teams. He often would end his stories that the “good ol’ days” really were not so good. Joe and Maureen moved the family to Ivanhoe in 1970 but continued to ranch in the valley. Joe began to retire in 2007 although he continued to help out on the farm until his death. His son, Dan, carries on his tradition.

Joe was a member of Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church where he served as an usher, past trustee and was a member of the Knights of Columbus. He was a member of the Upper Deer Creek Watershed board and Dist. 75 School board earlier in life.

Joe is survived by his five children: Paul (Rita) Lutgen, Mary Jo (Brian) Gruber, Dan (Kristi) Lutgen, Margo (David) Bakken, and Therese (John) Schoenfelder; 14 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Maureen; his parents; three sisters; and an infant granddaughter.

God bless his memory.

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