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Donald Hjalmer Hutar, 80, of Wright passed away on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024, in St. Mary's Medical Center in Duluth. He was born on May 16, 1943, in Aitkin to Hjalmer and Effie Hutar.

Don was raised on a farm in Rice Lake Township, near McGregor. He married Carol Walli, the girl of his dreams, on Sept. 1, 1962, and they started their family together. Don was a merchant marine and was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army. He loved his country and believed in freedom. Don was a jack of all trades: a truck driver, logger, mechanic and operator. He also worked as a general superintendent at Abhe & Svoboda Inc. for over 30 years, and redesigned and built most of the company's sandblasting equipment.

In his early years, Don enjoyed hunting, fishing, and trapping with his brother and dad; driving across the country, stopping at every airplane museum; and working on his cars, boats and his tractor. Most of all, he loved visiting and time with his family, especially golf cart rides with his grandchildren. Family was everything to him.

Don was preceded in death by his parents, Hjalmer and Effie Hutar; sister, Elaine Farah; brothers, Roger and Kent Hutar; and brothers-in-law Dick Farah, Dave Whitney, Melvin Walli, James Walli, Jack Walli, Milton Walli, Andy Anderson, Stan Skryzela and Ernie Walli.

Don will be deeply missed by his wife, Carol; children, Tim Hutar (Sherry Korpi), Steve Hutar (Shari), Julie Hedin (Stacy), Donald Hutar (Jeanette), Leslie Wilson (Randy Sorenson); grandchildren, Casey, Paige, Ethan, John (Chelsea), Ryan (Ariana), Michael (A`livia), Jared, Rachel (Cory), Ayden, Alex and Taylor; great-grandchildren, Avi, Alina, Landry, Kyrie, Harlow, Aili, Kruze, Alessi, Maverick, Kassidy, Naylani, Niealya and Kendall Jr .; sisters Joan Whitney and Darlene Radtke; sisters-in-law, Shirley Walli, Pat Anderson and Sharon Hutar; brother-in-law Rodney Walli; and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation: 10 a.m. until the 11:30 a.m. memorial service Saturday, Jan. 20 in Bethany Lutheran Church, 50 Court St., Cromwell. A private family inurnment with military honors will take place in Lakeside Cemetery in Tamarack at a later date. Arrangements entrusted to Atkins Northland Funeral Home, Cloquet. To sign the guest book and leave an online tribute, see http://www.atkinsnorthlandfuneral home.com.

Pine Knot News, Jan. 19, 2024