Phil Huck

Phil Huck, 76, Moorhead, MN. died Monday, May 19, 2008 in his home. Phil Huck was born on June 14, 1931 in Belfield, ND. He was the oldest of 14 children raised on a small grain and cattle farm. He worked with teams of horses on the farm. Work also involved mining coal and in the winter time cutting ice. Phil was not able to attend school on a regular basis due to the illness of his mother. As a teen, he helped with the wiring of several farms in the western ND area when the Coop brought power to the area. Without any formal training, he learned to play organ for Masses, funerals, baptisms, and weddings at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Gaylord, ND. Community and social life was centered on Church activities. He knew Dorothy Heidt most of his life. She would sometimes be singing in the choir while he played the organ. They were married on October 15, 1951. They have 12 children, 52 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren. After their marriage, Phil started work for M & H Gas stations in Dickinson; he worked as a manager for the company in Williston, Minot, and Moorhead. For over 19 years, he worked for Silverline Boat Company. He served under many titles at the same time such as personal director, insurance coordinator, safety supervisor, maintenance, and physical plant coordinator. After Silverline closed, Phil started Huck?s Lawn and Snowblowing Service. He employed many of his grandchildren. They would mow as many as 120 lawns a week. The kids enjoyed taking the days grass clippings to Ponyland in North Fargo. The horses could hear his truck and would be gathering at the gate by the time they arrived. Phil was proud of the friends he was able to make with the men from both the Dorothy Day House and Churches United who would work with him while the kids were in school. In order to put all 12 children through 12 years of the Catholic School system both Phil and Dorothy sold Shaklee Products for 42 years and Tahitian Noni for the last 7 years. Phil would frequently comment to children and grandchildren that he worked hard because he loved people. He wanted to see others have a better life centered on prayer and work. ?Involvement to the bottom? describes the commitment to any project or avocation that Phil undertook. Phil was a 4th degree member of the Knights of Columbus. Every day started better when it involved being able to attend Mass. Involvement in the parishes he has lived in consisted of serving on the committees, being Lector, Sacristan, and Eucharistic Minister. In the capacity of distributing the Eucharist one of his favorite times was to visit the sick and shut-ins. After joining St Mary?s in Fargo he became the coordinator for Communion ministers at Meritcare. He was known to bring his children and grandchildren to area nursing homes to visit many of the patients. He also brought the kids to work the Pro-Life booths at the Barnesville fairgrounds. They all took the opportunity to pass out literature and hold signs showing the dangers of abortion. Over the years, Phil and Dorothy had many ?foster girls.? Many of these young women just needed a safe loving environment in order to bring balance and stability to their lives. Anyone looking for Phil on a Thursday or Friday knew they could find him in front of the Abortion Mill in Fargo. He has served as a sidewalk counselor for many years. Phil would like everyone to pray for the closing of the abortion mill. Phil is preceded in death by his parents Philip, Elizabeth (Dukart), and Anna (Sitter) Huck, his brothers Louie Huck and Philip (Yogi) Sitter, his Daughter-in?law Valerie (Jahner) Huck and grandson Troy Huck. He is survived by his spouse: Dorothy, Children: Eileen (Bruce) Fike, Father Chuck Huck, Jerry (Theresa) Huck, Gary (Angie) Huck, Mary Jo (Bill) Kollitz, Phyllis (Dwight) Thompson, Greg (Linda) Huck, Mike (Kris) Huck, Karen (Pat) Schreiner, Colleen (Rick) Kuhn, Debbie Stroh, and Carol (Jim) Thoma. Phil?s brothers are Jim (Hilda), Christ (Mary Jane), Tony (Anna Mary), Peter (Dorothy) Jim (Donna) Sitter, Tom (Linda) Sitter, His sisters are: Rosie Huck, Rose (Bede) Frank, Marge (Lowell) Lindbow, Betty (Phil) Knaup, Irene (Ted) Naumann, Mary Jane (Christ) Huck. Phil was very involved with many organizations throughout his life. Phil asked that instead of flowers, donations be made in his name to any of the following organizations: Saint Gianna's Maternity Home 15605 County Road 15 Minto, ND 58261 or First Choice Clinic (701) 237-6530 1351 Page Dr S, #205, Fargo, ND or Life Coalition (701) 237-5062 112 University Dr N, #L138, Fargo, ND or Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life (612) 825-6831 4249 Nicollet Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55409 Or simply take the time to pray for an end to abortion and an increase in vocations to the priesthood and religious life. Visitation: Thursday, St. Mary?s Cathedral, Fargo 5:00 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. with a Rosary at 6:30 p.m. and Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m. all in the Church. Funeral Mass: Friday 10:00 a.m. in St. Mary?s Cathedral with a Rosary recited before the service in the Church at 9:15 a.m. Interment: Friday 1:30 p.m. St. Joseph?s Cemetery, Moorhead, MN. Arrangements Entrusted to the Boulger Funeral Home, Fargo, ND. Online Guestbook at www.boulgerfuneralhome.com