Edward E. and Iris I. Slettom

September 1, 1921 - June 3, 2012 WWII Veteran Slettom, Iris I. November 3, 1917 - May 30, 2012 Ed and Iris, married 68 years, died within four days of each other at Golden Horizons, Aitkin, MN where they lived together the past four years. They resided in St. Paul from 1951 to 2008. Iris graduated from Lynd Public Schools and St. Cloud State Teachers College. She taught 1st grade in St. Paul Park and Fairmont for six years where she met Ed. She served on the Group Health (now Health Partners) Board of Directors for 16 years. Iris taught Sunday school, was a Boy Scout den mother and active in many other community groups. Ed was raised on a farm near Little Falls, MN active in 4-H and FFA, served as State FFA President in 1939. He received a degree in agriculture from the U of M and was a member of Farm House fraternity. He taught Vo-Ag in Fairmont, MN where he met Iris. They married in 1944. Ed served in the Armed Forces WWII European Theatre in the 365th Medical Battalion. He was Rice County agricultural Extension Agent in Faribault, MN from 1946-51, Deputy Commissioner of Agriculture 1951-56, Executive Director of the Minnesota Assn. of Cooperatives 1956-1986. The National Association of FFA awarded him the Honorary American Farmer Degree in 1976 and he was inducted into the Co-op Hall of Fame in Washington, DC in 2009. Ed served on the Board of Directors for Voyagers National Park, MN Safety Council, MN Highway Users Conference, the Cooperative Foundation, National Conference of State Co-op Councils and MN Society of Association Executives. Ed was a passionate educator who started many youth Co-op programs and helped start a museum showcasing the history of the Capper-Volstead Act and the origins of the farmer cooperatives. Ed's international work included founding member of MN-Uruguary Partners of the Alliance, now Partners of the Americas; guest lecturer US Labor Dept. in Spain and Member of Cooperative League USA delegation to the Peoples Republic of China 1984. When Ed retired in 1986, he and Iris divided their time between St. Paul and their lakeside farm in Glen, MN where they developed an award-winning tree farm. They were active in the Clear Lake Grange, Clear Lake Assn. and Ed helped organize the Northwoods Forestry Co-op. They started the Glen 4th of July parade now in its 21st year. Ed always led the parade dressed as Uncle Sam. Ed and Iris were members of St. Anthony Park UCC in St. Paul for 60 years and attended Glen Community Church over the past 40 years. They are survived by daughter; Mary Jo Rajala (John) Danville, CA; sons, Bill Slettom, Monticello, NM, John (Jeanyne) Slettom, of Glen and Claremont, CA; Robert (Faye) Slettom, Park City, UT; four grandchildren; five great grandchildren, many nieces and nephews. Iris is survived by sisters Mary Sweadner, Chicago, IL and Peggy Cobb, Atlanta, GA. Service in the Glen/Aitkin community Tuesday, July 24, Glen Community Church at 1pm followed by an open house at the Slettom farm, on Clear Lake. Service in St. Paul will be Thursday, July 26 at St. Anthony Park UCC, 2129 Commonwealth Ave. at 2pm followed by reception. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Minnesota Cooperative Education Foundation which awards the Edward Slettom Cooperative Leadership Scholarships. Checks payable to the Minnesota Cooperative Education Foundation can be sent to the Cooperative Network, 400 Selby Ave., Ste. Y, St. Paul, MN 55102. or online at www.giveMN.org and search for MNCooperative Education Foundation or MN-ND Chapter Alzheimer's Assn.; 7900 W. 78th St., #100, Minneapolis, MN 55439.