STERLING McKINNEY, 76, and his wife JEAN were killed August 16,
1986 in a head-on collision in Yellowstone National Park.
The couple were married in 1942 at Havre, Montana, and moved to
Culbertson in 1947 where he was in partnership with his brother in
McKinney Motors and she worked as bookkeeper for the firm. They
retired in 1978.
He was a charter member of the Northeast Montana Threshers and
Antique Association, serving as its only president for 23 years. He
was fire chief of the Culbertson Volunteer Fire Department for 18
years, active in Lions Club, and on the school board. He also
served on the board of Roosevelt Memorial Hospital and was active
in Boy Scouts, serving as scoutmaster. An avid hunter and
fisherman, he was a past member of the Havre Elks Lodge.
Submitted by Glen Munz, Box 504, Wolf Point, MT 59201.
MARVIN KRUSE, builder of 1/10 scale wooden tractors died
September 12, 1986 after a long illness, emphysema. He was 64.
In 1970, Marvin Kruse, an active farmer and dairyman thought he
needed a winter time hobby. He decided to build a scale model farm
wagon which he and his dad worked with while he was growing up. He
began planning, designing and creating, and one day he had his farm
wagon built. One idea sparks another, and another, so Marvin’s
‘Replicas of Yesteryear’ was born.
These are all handcrafted of select wood.
In 1977, Marvin made his first model D John Deere 1/10 scale
wooden model. In all, he made some 900 tractors, 200 farm wagons
plus covered wagons, stage coaches, buggies, dray wagons, farm
implements, surreys and numerous other articles. He had supplied
models to customers in 29 states, England and Canada.
The model making was a family project and four sons and a
daughter grew up helping out as time permitted. The children are
now all grown and continue to collect toys and make models.
Marvin was born November 3, 1921 on the farm at Hartington,
Nebraska where he farmed until 1979.
Submitted in loving memory of her husband by Christine Kruse,
Hartington, NE
THEODORE (TED) YODER passed away from an apparent heart attack
on October 5, 1986 at his home, at the age of 81. Ted Yoder was a
very active member of the Tri-State Gas Engine and Tractor
Association, Inc. in Portland, Indiana. He joined the club in 1967
as a member and moved up the ranks to hold the office of
Vice-President. In 1981 he did not run for office and was named
Honorary Vice-President at that time.
His job at the show was making apple butter and also serving as
head sawyer. Ted loved the saw mill and made many additions to the
mill including a top saw. He was an active member with Tri-State up
until his death.
Ted lived in Linn Grove, Indiana, and was the brother of Ruth
Liby of Muncie. A native and lifelong resident of Adams County, he
was a retired well driller and saw mill employee. His wife, Edith
Campbell Yoder died in 1970.
Ted was an asset to our club and will surely be missed by all
who knew him.
Submitted by Dave Reum, President, Tri-State Gas Engine and
Tractor Association, Inc., Portland, IN.
