John Hutson

John E. Hutson, age 77 of Granite Falls, died Sunday, December 12, 2010 at Granite Manor in Granite Falls, Minnesota.

Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Wednesday, December 15 at Granite Falls Lutheran Church in Granite Falls with Pastor Steve Carmany and Pastor Robert Knutson officiating. Military honors will be provided by American Legion Post 69 of Granite Falls.

Visitation will be at the church one hour prior to the service.Inurnment will be later at Mount Hope Cemetery in Sparta, Wisconsin.

John Elmer Hutson was born September 22, 1933 in Sparta, Wisconsin to Claude and Georgia (Hapgood) Hutson. He was a 1951 graduate of Sparta High School and served as a member of the 32nd Division of the Wisconsin Army National Guard. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict (1952-1955) and was recalled to active duty for the Berlin Crisis (1961-1962). On November 14, 1953 he married Bernice "Bea" Antonson in the post chapel at Vint Hill Farms Station in Warrenton, Virginia.The couple moved to Sparta in 1956. John owned and operated Monroe County Insurance Agency from 1961 until 1986 and also owned Monroe County Title and Abstract for ten years. During his twenty-five years in business in Sparta, John served the community in a variety of capacities. He was awarded the Sparta Jaycees Distinguished Service Award in 1965 and the Sparta Jaycees Boss of the Year Award in 1973. He was a Past President of the Sparta Board of Education, served as a Director of the Sparta Area Chamber of Commerce, and had served as an officer of the Sparta Industrial Foundation. He was a co-founder of the Sparta Community Credit Union and a former Chairman of the Board. He had served on the Board of Directors of the Wisconsin Title Association. He was a former member and President of Trinity Lutheran Church.In 1986 they moved to Rapid City, South Dakota. His wife, Bea, died on July 14, 1998. He married Elizabeth "Liz" (Haugen) Antonson on July 30, 1999 at Rimrock Presbyterian Church in Rapid City. In 2002 they moved to Hatfield, Wisconsin and in 2005 they moved to Ocala, Florida, and later resided in Clermont and Davenport. While in Florida he managed Protectus Insurance. He was a member of Community of Faith Church in Davenport. Following their retirement in 2010 they moved to Granite Falls.John's avocation was announcing amateur and professional rodeos. In 1961 he began announcing amateur rodeos and that year co-founded the Wisconsin High School Rodeo. He announced the Wisconsin High School Rodeo Finals for 26 years, served on the Board of Directors until 1986 and had served as President. He was the co-announcer of the National High School Rodeo Finals for 15 years, was elected to the Executive Committee of the National High School Rodeo Association (NHSRA) in 1968, and served as President in 1974. He also served as Chairman of the Public Relations Committee for the NHSRA. He received the 1974 Man of the Year Award for outstanding service to NHSRA from Hoof & Horn magazine. He joined the professional organization of the Rodeo Cowboys Association, now known as the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA), in 1963 and served six years as its spokesman. He served on the PRCA Board of Directors, including terms as Vice Chairman and Contract Personnel Director. In 1977 he announced the National Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. In 1976 he was accepted as a member of the National Speakers Association.

He was a member of Granite Falls Lutheran Church, a life member of American Legion Post 69 in Granite Falls, and a life member of General R.B. McCoy VFW Post 2112 in Sparta.

Survivors include his wife, Liz Hutson of Granite Falls; children, Jon (Jillian) Hutson of Valencia, California, Judith (John) Timm of Wood Lake, David Antonson of Pengilly, Kay (Johnny) Magnuson of Granite Falls, Deborah (Steve) Ladner of Granite Falls, and Mary (special friend, Mike) Magnuson of Granite Falls; 15 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; brother, Gordon (Leola "Dot") Hutson of Davenport, Florida; nieces and nephews, Kenneth Hutson of Atlanta, Georgia, Pat (Sue) Patton of Sauk Centre, Georgia (Doug) Johnson of Minneapolis, Nora Patton of St. Paul, and Dan (Sue) Patton of Minneapolis; seven great-nieces and great-nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Bea; sister, Darlene Patton; and nephew, Brian Hutson.

Serving as casket bearers will be his grandchildren, Rijker, Skijler, and Seabrijn Hutson, Amy Strait, Mike Timm, Kevin Timm, Stacey Steinbach, Emily Antonson, Leah Antonson, Cory Magnuson, Jacob Magnuson, Kelly Krogstad, Amanda Ladner, Jason Schuler, and Ashley Magnuson. Honorary bearers will be Darrell Jenkins, Don Knudsen, Ward Cheney, Verne Sheppard, Dave Hagen, Denver Heal, members of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA), and members of Promise Keepers at Community of Faith Church.