Gerhard country   Fargo to Detroit Lakes is 46 miles; to Ponsford, 28 more; to Lake George, 33; to Bemidji, 24; to Tenstrike, 17; and to Blackduck, 9. In 1969, Gerhard put nearly 50,000 miles on his fleet of junkers, mostly the 1964 Ford Fairlane, a gift from Walter H.Deubener.

Gerhard Wilhelm Mueller: 1904 – 1970

Although he had been a hardy person for most of his life, Gerhard’s health began to fail in the late 1960’s. Obesity, swelling in the extremities and possibly congestive heart disease or undiagnosed pre-diabetes led him occasionally to the Wunderdoktoren in Fargo. The obituary ran in the Becker County Record on Thursday, September 10, 1970, page 5. (See note below.)

A note on the obituary: The obituary ran in the Becker County Record on Thursday, September 10, 1970, page 5. There are a few errors. Gerhard actually arrived in northern Minnesota in 1948; his failed tenure at Tenstrike and Blackduck is ignored. His brother was Ernest, not Earnest; his sister was Frieda, not Freda; his sister Adelheid was Mrs. Hilbert Nickel, not Mrs. Henry; and his sister Norma, oddly, was not mentioned.

Survivors   Five of Gerhard's siblings were in Height of Land for his funeral. From left: Herbert, Ernst, Frieda, Adelheid, and Kurt.