Herbert John Dutt

Herbert Dutt, 93, of Willmar, died Friday, April 14, at Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar.  His funeral service will be 2:00 p.m. Friday, April 28, at Bethel Lutheran Church in Willmar.  Interment will be at First English Lutheran Cemetery in Sacred Heart.  Visitation will be 5:00-7:00 p.m. Thursday, April 27, at Harvey Anderson Funeral Home in Willmar and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church.  In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Bethel Lutheran Church for youth programs.

Herbert John Dutt was born May 9, 1929, in Faulk County, South Dakota, the son of Jacob and Christina (Holzwarth) Dutt.  After his father’s death in 1934, he moved to Tolstoy, SD and later Gettysburg, SD, where he graduated from Gettysburg High School in 1947.  Following high school, Herb attended South Dakota State University in Brookings.  After three years of college, he served four years in the U.S. Navy and was stationed in North Africa, England, and Pennsylvania.  Following his discharge, he returned to college, obtaining his B.S. degree in social science in 1957 and later a master’s degree in administration and counseling in 1960.

Herb began teaching as a junior high school science teacher in Hector, Minnesota in 1957.  While working there, he met a fellow teacher, Marilyn Skalbeck and they were married in 1958.  One daughter, Tracy, was born to their marriage.  Herb later created the counseling department in Hector and in 1966 moved to Willmar to become a counselor at Willmar High School.  He worked at Willmar High School until his retirement in 1991.

Herb was a member of Bethel Lutheran Church and Valley Golf Club, where he and Marilyn spent many hours on the golf course.  He was a gifted woodworker and created many one-of-a-kind projects from scratch for his family and friends.  Herb enjoyed spending time at their cabin on Lake Amelia in Villard, MN, especially driving the boat for his daughter, her friends, and his nephews and nieces, as they waterskied.  In 1981, they moved to their home on Eagle Lake, where they have resided since.

He is survived by his wife: Marilyn of Willmar; his daughter: Tracy (Dan) Eggen of Otsego; numerous nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, and great-great-nieces and great-great-nephews; and many who considered him an adopted grandpa.  He is also survived by sisters-in-law: DeVona Swanson, Joan Skalbeck, and Gloria Skalbeck.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers: Gottlieb (Pat) Dutt, Reinholt (Norma) Dutt, and Milton (Hertha) Dutt; a sister: Eileen (George) Torbert; and brothers-in-law: James Swanson, Robert (Joan) Skalbeck, Rodney Skalbeck, and Milan Skalbeck.

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