A lifelong resident of Shakopee, MN, Donald “Dutch” Herman LaTour, was 91, when he entered eternal peace on Thursday evening, January 22, 2015, at his home.
The family will greet guests on Tuesday, January 27 from 4-7 pm and on Wednesday, January 28 from 9:30-10:30 am, all at Ballard-Sunder Funeral and Cremation, 833 South Marschall Road, Shakopee. The Mass of Christian Burial will be on Wednesday at 11 am, at The Parish of Saints Joachim and Anne (St. Mark) 350 South Atwood Street, Shakopee. Father Eric Lundgren will preside. Dutch’s pall bearers will be his grandsons, Eric LaTour, Jeremy LaTour, Michael LaTour, Nick LaTour, Joshua Vaughan, Tyler Vaughan, and Jacob LaTour. He will be laid to rest next to his wife, Mary at the Shakopee Catholic Cemetery, Shakopee.
Anton and Ann (Unterberger) LaTour received a late Christmas gift on December 26, 1923, the birth of their son, Dutch, born on the family farm. Since his first breathe, Dutch’s life was all about being a farmer. One of six children, his days were filled with long hours and hard work, nothing he never feared. When Dutch had a free moment, he enjoyed ice fishing with his brothers on Mille Lacs.
Don had his eyes set on a special classmate, by the name of Mary Lebens. It was an instant connection and on April 23, 1947 at the Church of St. Mark, they exchanged wedding vows. Dutch and Mary raised five children, John, Patricia, Dan, Carol and Randy. Settling on the family farm when they were married, Dutch and Mary bought the farm from his father in 1956. Dutch remained in his element…farming!
Later on in life, Dutch and Mary enjoyed traveling around the United States. They especially enjoyed the vacation to Hawaii, but it was the bus tours they enjoyed the best. Dutch and Mary had fond memories of tours to Arizona, Alaska, Texas, Colorado and California.
Farming was Dutch’s life, he also enjoyed watching old western movies, with his favorite cowboy that of John Wayne. He loved talking politics, eating chocolate and watching the Minnesota Twins and Vikings. Dutch was an avid reader of the Readers Digest and any farm magazine he could get his hands on. He loved to play sheep head and flume and dropping an occasional cane pole into Lake Minnetonka. In the last years, he enjoyed baking cakes and canning, especially pickles and sweetcorn.
Dutch’s life changed when he lost his bride Mary of 63 years, on January 22, 2011. From that day on, he missed her greatly and wanted to be with Mary. A man of strong faith, Dutch put his life in the hands of God. It was four years and minutes to the date when Dutch and Mary passed. They entered as husband and wife on the same day and left this world on the same date…January 22.
Left to honor Dutch’s life and mourn the death are his children, John (Shirley) LaTour of Shakopee, Patricia (Dave Shaffer) LaTour of Fort Lupton, CO, Dan (Julie Segler) LaTour of Shakopee, Carol (Robert) Vaughan of Braham, MN, Randy (Janice) LaTour of Belle Plaine; grandchildren, Eric LaTour, Nicole (Andy) Walker, Jenny (Brian Vierstraete) LaTour, Ann (Dan Bateson) LaTour , Jeremy LaTour, Michael (Leah) LaTour , Nick LaTour, Joshua (fiancée Halie Sawyer) Vaughan, Kalli Vaughan, Tyler Vaughan, Jacob LaTour and Jenna LaTour; great-grandchildren, Jordan, Taylor, Elijah, Hannah, Timothy, Ann, Nina; sister, Bernie Thomas; sisters-in-law, Marie LaTour, Gladys Lebens; other loving relatives and devoted friends
Preceded in death and there to welcome Dutch home is his wife Mary; parents; brothers, Rhubert LaTour, Anthony LaTour; sisters, Jule (Ed) Wicklund, Evelyn (Maurice) Pitschneider; brother-in-law, Al Thomas.
