1921
Perrie
2017
Perrie Sheldon
February 14, 1921 — July 5, 2017
Sheldon, Perrie Valentine, age 96, died peacefully on July 5, 2017. Preceded in death by son Marion Milo Sheldon. Survived by wife of 77 years, Lucille; children; Loren (Melinda), Keith (Mary Anne), Jay (Tammy), and Judy; daughter-in-law Kathryn, 9 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews.
Perrie Valentine Sheldon was born February 14 1921 at “Elmside Farm”, four miles south of Clearwater, MN, the 8th child of Evan Marion and Minnie Markham Sheldon.
Perrie attended the first eight grades of school at district 14, near Fish Lake. After grade school, Perrie attended the first three years of high school at Clearwater, then finished high school at Monticello High School in 1939. He was always active in school debates and class plays.
Being a farm boy, at a young age he was active in 4H, where he would show his horse at Wright County Fair in Howard Lake MN. In 1938, the family left the farm and moved to Monticello.
After Graduation, he was employed at Taft Poultry Farm and at a Shell Gas Station. Then the Manager of the local Co-Op Creamery asked him to come work for them. In 1940 he married his high school sweetheart, Lucille Perkins. They were blessed with five children - Milo, Loren, Keith, Jay and Judy.
July 15 1944, Perrie received his draft notice, and reported to Fort Snelling MN. After 17 weeks of Basic Training at Camp Robinson, Arkansas, he volunteered for Airborne Training at Fort Benning GA. All of his jumps were successful. After a two week furlough, he returned to Fort Benning, then was assigned to Fort Meade MD, then overseas. While being transported overseas, the “Bearn”, a French Aircraft Carrier, was struck, and repaired at sea, enough to make it to the Azores after it left the convoy. From the Azores, after two weeks, he boarded an English ship “Athlone Castle” coming from Australia and heading to Liverpool England. Then he went from Liverpool to Hampton England, and then across the English Channel aboard an English ship, and beached in France. Near Munster, Germany, he was assigned to the 17th Airborne Division, 513th Parachute Infantry. He had 32 days of combat in the Ardennes and Rhine areas of Germany.
After the victory, he was transferred to the 82nd Airborne, Service Company, 504th Parachute Infantry, and went to Berlin Germany, for the Occupation, where he was a Service Company Clerk.
In December 1945, the 82nd Airborne was relieved of occupation in Berlin, and the Division returned to England. While in London, on Christmas Eve afternoon, some time was spent visiting Westminster Abbey. The 82nd Airborne Division boarded the Queen Mary and returned to the States, passing the Statue of Liberty coming into New York Harbor. January 18 1946, the 82nd Airborne Division was in the Victory Parade on 42nd Street in New York City.
Perrie reached the rank of Corporal while with the 82nd Airborne. He received his Jump Wings, Combat Infantry Badge, Good Conduct Medal, Bronze Star, and Sharp Shooter Medals, Unit Citation Medal, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle-Eastern Campaign Medal, World War II Campaign Medal, and Army of Occupation Campaign Medal.
He left NYC via train to Camp McCoy Wisconsin, where he was discharged January 18 1946. He returned to Minneapolis via train, where friends had brought Lucille to be reunited with him, and to return him to Monticello.
Once back in Monticello, the manager of the Creamery called and wanted him to come back to work. Later in 1946, they moved to Longville MN, where Perrie managed and operated the Longville Co-Op Creamery. It was a one man operation. Later in 1947, they leased the Creamery to the Peterson Brothers and he chose not to stay. They moved to St. Cloud, where he worked at the Veterans Hospital until 1948. He then received a letter from Land O’ Lakes wanting him to work for them from Morris MN and cover 10 creameries, so they moved again. In 1950, he went to work for the Benson Co-Op Creamery. In August 1952, he was contacted by Klenzade Products of Beloit WI to take a Sales & Service position and work out of Fergus Falls MN. September 1, 1952 was his first day with Klenzade, and the family joined him in October. His territory was Northwest MN, ND, and Northeast SD. In 1962, Eco Lab and Klenzade merged, and he stayed with the new company and retired from Eco Lab in 1984 and stayed in Fergus Falls.
In 1984, he worked as Secretary for the Elks Lodge 1093 part time until 1992. Then he went to work at Pamida, where he worked mainly in the Greenhouse. He also became a volunteer at the local food shelf. In 1992, the Food Shelf lost their lease, and he was put on a committee with Noble Hatling and Ken Hovland to find a new location. It was his idea that the Food Shelf should own their own building. He helped raise over $70,000, and built the Community Food Shelf at 1512 First Avenue. Local builders and others really helped.
In 1999, he promoted and later dedicated “Ottertail Veterans Memorial Drive”, covering 86 miles of County Roads. In 2008, Becker County extended the Drive by connecting North of Perham.
In 2002, with the help of Stan Morrill, they founded the “Veterans Walk of Flags” in Fergus Falls. On Memorial Day 2002, 101 flags were raised for the first time. Currently there are approximately 1800 flags displayed in parks throughout the city on each federally recognized Flag Holiday.
In 2009, he appeared before the City Council and received approval to dedicate the new Tower Street Bridge to POW-MIA.
Perrie and Lucille became members of the Federated Church in 1953. He is a Life Member of the VFW 612; Life Member of DAV Chapter 25; Life Member of American Legion Post 25; Past President of Y’s Folks; Past President of the Food Shelf; Charter Member of J.A.I.L Inc. (Justice Abounds In Love); Past Member of Toastmasters. He also served as a Deacon at the Federated Church and on several committees there, as well as serving on several city committees under Mayor Kelly Ferber.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be given to the charity of your choice.
Memorial Service: 3 PM Saturday, July 8, 2017, at The Federated Church in Fergus Falls, with visitation from 1PM - 3PM at the church.
Clergy: Reverend Doug Dent
Military Honors: American Legion Post 30 and VFW Post 612, Fergus Falls
Interment: Knollwood Memorial Gardens, Fergus Falls
Online Guestbook: GlendeNilson.com
Perrie's Video Tribute
Perrie's Memorial Folder
Perrie Valentine Sheldon was born February 14 1921 at “Elmside Farm”, four miles south of Clearwater, MN, the 8th child of Evan Marion and Minnie Markham Sheldon.
Perrie attended the first eight grades of school at district 14, near Fish Lake. After grade school, Perrie attended the first three years of high school at Clearwater, then finished high school at Monticello High School in 1939. He was always active in school debates and class plays.
Being a farm boy, at a young age he was active in 4H, where he would show his horse at Wright County Fair in Howard Lake MN. In 1938, the family left the farm and moved to Monticello.
After Graduation, he was employed at Taft Poultry Farm and at a Shell Gas Station. Then the Manager of the local Co-Op Creamery asked him to come work for them. In 1940 he married his high school sweetheart, Lucille Perkins. They were blessed with five children - Milo, Loren, Keith, Jay and Judy.
July 15 1944, Perrie received his draft notice, and reported to Fort Snelling MN. After 17 weeks of Basic Training at Camp Robinson, Arkansas, he volunteered for Airborne Training at Fort Benning GA. All of his jumps were successful. After a two week furlough, he returned to Fort Benning, then was assigned to Fort Meade MD, then overseas. While being transported overseas, the “Bearn”, a French Aircraft Carrier, was struck, and repaired at sea, enough to make it to the Azores after it left the convoy. From the Azores, after two weeks, he boarded an English ship “Athlone Castle” coming from Australia and heading to Liverpool England. Then he went from Liverpool to Hampton England, and then across the English Channel aboard an English ship, and beached in France. Near Munster, Germany, he was assigned to the 17th Airborne Division, 513th Parachute Infantry. He had 32 days of combat in the Ardennes and Rhine areas of Germany.
After the victory, he was transferred to the 82nd Airborne, Service Company, 504th Parachute Infantry, and went to Berlin Germany, for the Occupation, where he was a Service Company Clerk.
In December 1945, the 82nd Airborne was relieved of occupation in Berlin, and the Division returned to England. While in London, on Christmas Eve afternoon, some time was spent visiting Westminster Abbey. The 82nd Airborne Division boarded the Queen Mary and returned to the States, passing the Statue of Liberty coming into New York Harbor. January 18 1946, the 82nd Airborne Division was in the Victory Parade on 42nd Street in New York City.
Perrie reached the rank of Corporal while with the 82nd Airborne. He received his Jump Wings, Combat Infantry Badge, Good Conduct Medal, Bronze Star, and Sharp Shooter Medals, Unit Citation Medal, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle-Eastern Campaign Medal, World War II Campaign Medal, and Army of Occupation Campaign Medal.
He left NYC via train to Camp McCoy Wisconsin, where he was discharged January 18 1946. He returned to Minneapolis via train, where friends had brought Lucille to be reunited with him, and to return him to Monticello.
Once back in Monticello, the manager of the Creamery called and wanted him to come back to work. Later in 1946, they moved to Longville MN, where Perrie managed and operated the Longville Co-Op Creamery. It was a one man operation. Later in 1947, they leased the Creamery to the Peterson Brothers and he chose not to stay. They moved to St. Cloud, where he worked at the Veterans Hospital until 1948. He then received a letter from Land O’ Lakes wanting him to work for them from Morris MN and cover 10 creameries, so they moved again. In 1950, he went to work for the Benson Co-Op Creamery. In August 1952, he was contacted by Klenzade Products of Beloit WI to take a Sales & Service position and work out of Fergus Falls MN. September 1, 1952 was his first day with Klenzade, and the family joined him in October. His territory was Northwest MN, ND, and Northeast SD. In 1962, Eco Lab and Klenzade merged, and he stayed with the new company and retired from Eco Lab in 1984 and stayed in Fergus Falls.
In 1984, he worked as Secretary for the Elks Lodge 1093 part time until 1992. Then he went to work at Pamida, where he worked mainly in the Greenhouse. He also became a volunteer at the local food shelf. In 1992, the Food Shelf lost their lease, and he was put on a committee with Noble Hatling and Ken Hovland to find a new location. It was his idea that the Food Shelf should own their own building. He helped raise over $70,000, and built the Community Food Shelf at 1512 First Avenue. Local builders and others really helped.
In 1999, he promoted and later dedicated “Ottertail Veterans Memorial Drive”, covering 86 miles of County Roads. In 2008, Becker County extended the Drive by connecting North of Perham.
In 2002, with the help of Stan Morrill, they founded the “Veterans Walk of Flags” in Fergus Falls. On Memorial Day 2002, 101 flags were raised for the first time. Currently there are approximately 1800 flags displayed in parks throughout the city on each federally recognized Flag Holiday.
In 2009, he appeared before the City Council and received approval to dedicate the new Tower Street Bridge to POW-MIA.
Perrie and Lucille became members of the Federated Church in 1953. He is a Life Member of the VFW 612; Life Member of DAV Chapter 25; Life Member of American Legion Post 25; Past President of Y’s Folks; Past President of the Food Shelf; Charter Member of J.A.I.L Inc. (Justice Abounds In Love); Past Member of Toastmasters. He also served as a Deacon at the Federated Church and on several committees there, as well as serving on several city committees under Mayor Kelly Ferber.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be given to the charity of your choice.
Memorial Service: 3 PM Saturday, July 8, 2017, at The Federated Church in Fergus Falls, with visitation from 1PM - 3PM at the church.
Clergy: Reverend Doug Dent
Military Honors: American Legion Post 30 and VFW Post 612, Fergus Falls
Interment: Knollwood Memorial Gardens, Fergus Falls
Online Guestbook: GlendeNilson.com
Perrie's Video Tribute
Perrie's Memorial Folder
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