Travis "Sonny" Morgan Jr.

Travis "Sonny" Morgan, 88, of Arnolds Park, IA, formerly of Blue Earth, MN, passed away on Tuesday, November 1, 2022, at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD.
A funeral service will be held on Monday at 4:00 p.m. at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Spirit Lake, IA. A visitation will be held on Monday from 3:00 p.m. till service time at the church. A private family burial will be held at a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of the Robinson Funeral Home, formerly the Schuchert-Lentz Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. Online condolences may be left at www.spiritlakefuneralhome.com
Travis Eugene Morgan, Jr. was born on June 18, 1934, the son of Travis and Mary (Bedgood) Morgan, Sr. in Beaumont, TX. Travis Sr. "Pops" Morgan owned and operated Dixie Service Station where he and Sonny worked together. Pops built several stock race cars and Sonny a go-cart along with a bicycle that had a motor on it. Sonny was introduced to racing cars when "Pops" driver Jack fell ill and Sonny had to step in and drive the race car. After one race he was hooked and began racing himself at age 16. By age 21, Sonny had collected 37 first place trophies. Along with racing cars, Pops Morgan also owned an airplane. Sonny and Pops would fly to the Gulf coast to get fresh shrimp for dinner. Always looking for speed, Sonny also began racing planes and received his pilot's license at age 14. At one point he held the record as the youngest pylon racer in the state of Texas. After graduating from high school, he attended Lamar University and earned his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. He then was drafted into the US Army and served his country during the Korean War. After returning home he was stationed in El Paso, TX. Sonny enjoyed regular trips to his family's plantation in Pitkin, Louisiana. He continued to race cars, eventually making racing his full time career. He has won over 100 races in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota and Oklahoma. He raced the Daytona 500 when it was still held on the beach. During his quest to find car sponsorship, he met Fritz Kriewall, owner of Kriewall Oil. Fritz decided to give Sonny a chance and sponsored the car. On one of Sonny's visits with the Krielwalls, he was introduced to Fritz and Nina's daughter Cynthia. After a brief courtship they were united in marriage on September 15, 1971, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Blue Earth, MN recently celebrated their 51st wedding anniversary. To this union, a daughter Suzanne was born.
The family then resided in Blue Earth, where Sonny owned and operated his car dealership, L&M Motors. He was active in their church as an Elder and served as President for the Chamber of Commerce. Sonny was always willing to lend a helping hand to the community.
On the weekends, the family enjoyed spending time at their Lake cabin in Okoboji Iowa, where Sonny and Cindy eventually retired and lived until Sonny passing. Sonny loved boating, attending and watching Nascar and Indy races, flying, traveling, and driving his Corvette to the Softail Saloon every Wednesday for lunch. All of his friends and family looked forward to his annual birthday bash which was always a big day for Sonny. At Spyglass condos where Sonny and Cindy retired to, he earned the nickname of "Sheriff" because he kept track of the daily details of all the other condo owners and enforced the rules around the complex.
Left to cherish his memory is his wife Cindy Morgan of Arnolds Park, IA; daughter Suzanne (Nick) Kern of Arnolds Park, IA; daughter Carleen (Randy) Stone of WI; son Wade Morgan of MN; grandchildren Evan, Tyler, Ryley and Bryant.
He was preceded in death by his parents.