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Tracy Birdsey

Lead Summary

Tracy Grant Birdsey, 70, Shakopee, formerly of Luverne, died Thursday, Nov. 7, 2019, at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis following a heart attack.
A memorial service was Tuesday, Nov. 12, at Living Rock Church in Luverne.
Tracy Birdsey was born Sept. 8, 1949, to Ernest and Betty (Pederson) Birdsey in Luverne. Tracy was raised in various places growing up because his father served in the U.S. Air Force. At the beginning of Tracy’s senior year in high school, his family moved to Rapid City, South Dakota, where his dad was stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base. Tracy graduated from Douglas High School.
Tracy and Deanene Greer eloped to be married and later celebrated their marriage at the Baptist Church in Luverne on Sept. 16, 1967. Tracy decided to further his education and attended Mankato State University in Mankato. Prior to finishing school, the couple moved to Bellevue, Nebraska, where Tracy began a 13-year employment with Wells Fargo installing alarm systems. The couple later moved to Houston, Texas, and then San Antonio, Texas, where he worked in alarm system sales.
In 1988 Tracy moved back to Luverne where he and Deanene divorced. Eventually Tracy started into trucking for various companies. In 2010 he retired from Lakeville Motor Express (LME).
He enjoyed his retirement and played golf as much as he could. In 2015 he moved to Shakopee.
Tracy always had a passion for competition, first with games like Twister and Scrabble when he was young and later Trivial Pursuit and any type of sporting activity, especially golfing. He was interested in politics and debating about the inequities of the world. He was a good cook, enjoyed problem solving and doing his own car repairs. He loved cheering on the Nebraska Cornhuskers and Tiger Woods.
Tracy is survived by his children, Benjamin Birdsey of Merrimack, New Hampshire, Brook (Kevin) Barnhart of Luverne, Matthew Birdsey from “on the road, USA” and Breanna (Benton) Kodet of Redwood Falls; grandchildren Megan Westrum, Kameron Keene and Brogen Kodet; siblings, Vanessa Birdsey of Shakopee, Garth Birdsey of Salisbury, North Carolina, Kristine Foslein of St. Paul, and Jan Birdsey (Jack Spier) of Tampa, Florida; his former wife, Deanene Greer of Luverne; and other family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Memorials are preferred to Luverne Country Club.  
Arrangements were provided by Hartquist Funeral Home of Luverne, www.hartquistfuneral.com.   
 (1114 F)

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