Maurice Skoog

Maurice LeRoy Skoog was born on November 11, 1929 at his home in Otto Township, rural New York Mills, Minnesota. His parents were the late Verner Morris and Alina “Lena” (Wirtala) Skoog. He attended Prairie Country School District #160 until the 8th grade. After school he was employed in the potato fields in North Dakota, and then employed on the Iron Range working in the mines. 

Maurice was drafted into the United States Army as a gunner in 1951.  He was with the 15th Armored Division-Company C 10th Medium Tank Battalion serving in the Korean War. He was honorably discharged in August 1953.

The very first day back after  being discharged and returning home, he drove to Perham and presented Mary with a diamond.  Mary jumped out of his car to run in the house and show her mother what she had just gotten.  Her mother said,
“Where’s Maurice?”  She had left him in the car.  Eventually, she returned to find out he wanted to marry her as soon as possible.

On October 17, 1953 Maurice was united in marriage to Mary Amanda Gustavson.  Their marriage was blessed with two children: Debra Jean and Randall Lee.

From 1954 to 1959 Maurice and Mary owned and operated the Rainbow Café in Perham.  In 1959 they sold the Rainbow and purchased the Mills Café in New York Mills which they operated until 1968.  When they sold the Mills Café they purchased the house west of New York Mills where they have lived ever since. He then worked primarily as a carpenter with Dynamic Homes and then independently with Ron Bernu and others in the construction business.  He also did a little farming on the side in the 1970’s, raising pigs, beef cattle, chickens and geese.  In the 1980’s and beyond, he sold the animals and stuck to crop farming as a side job.  In his later years he was employed as a custodian for the OTWCAC until his retirement from that part time job at 83.

Maurice was a Life Member of the Charles D. Center V.F.W. Post #3289 of New York Mills, Minnesota. He served as the All State Quartermaster from 1973 to 1974.

He enjoyed playing horseshoes, he was the V.F.W. State Class E Runner up in 1986 and in 1987 was the V.F.W. State Class E Champion.  He also liked bowling and had two 700+ series. He enjoyed golfing and watching golf on TV, he even had his own fairway at home. His other hobbies included trap shooting, hunting, fishing and even flying small airplanes in his early days.  He was also a big Twins and Vikings fan.

On April 25, 2020 Maurice passed away at his home in New York Mills at 90 years of age.  He will be dearly missed by his family and friends.  Preceding Maurice in death were his parents; siblings: Robert Skoog, Bernice (Roy) Bodas, Doris (Keith) Krueger, Betty (Bob) Lowrie, Jack (Helen) Skoog, Donna (Tom) Salo and James Skoog.

Maurice is survived by his wife, Mary of New York Mills; daughter, Debra (Mike) Rudolph of New York Mills; son, Randall (Deanna) Skoog of Perham; 2 grandchildren, Carrie (Rob) Spena of Littleton, CO and Chad (Lisa) Rudolph of Henning ; 5 great-grandchildren, Cale, Jace, and Alexis Rudolph, Taylor and Averie Spena; foster daughter, Rose Korby; numerous nieces and nephews and a host of friends.

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