Myron Dennis Hohnstadt, 93

Myron Dennis Hohnstadt waltzed his way into heaven Friday, May 30, 2025.

Myron enjoyed old-time German music, dancing, traveling, reading and a good joke. In his younger days he frequented the ballrooms of southern Minnesota, where he met Laurie. He also met his second wife, Shirley, at a dance.

Myron was born July 13, 1931, to William “Bill” and Esther (Kuehn) Hohnstadt in New Ulm, Minnesota. The family moved to Elysian, Minnesota, in 1937, where he grew up. He graduated from Waterville High School in 1950.

In May of 1952, Myron was drafted into the Army. He later attended Dunwoody Institute for auto mechanics and worked for the Jay Craig Co., where he became a truck mechanic.

Myron married Laurice Leone Behnken of Viola, Minnesota, at Peace United Church of Christ in Rochester, June 3, 1961. They had almost 41 years together and did a lot of traveling, mostly by motorcycle. Their time together was cut short when Laurice passed away of cancer on May 16, 2002.

During the winter months he attended Mankato State College, graduating in 1964 with a major in Industrial Arts Education and a minor in Library Science.

He then taught Industrial Arts at Byron, Austin and Albert Lea high schools, before moving to Park Rapids, Minnesota, in 1970, where he served as librarian for the middle school and three elementary schools until his retirement in 1993.

On Jan. 10, 2003, he married Shirley Laudenbach. They later divorced, however, they remained friends.

Myron was preceded in death by his parents; wife Laurice and ex-wife Shirley; brothers Wallace, Howard and Roger Hohnstadt. He is survived by his son and grandson, Ivan and Evan Hohnstadt of Oliver, Wisconsin; daughter Orla (Doug) Beehler of Maple Lake; grandchildren, Peyton of Fargo, North Dakota; and Kaleigh Beehler, Dallas, Texas; siblings Carl (Joan) of Hudson, Wis., Cleone (Don) Pritchard of Stillwater, Larry (Catherine) of Waterville, Stanley (Jeani) of Apple River, Ill, Cora Jane of Pine River, and sister-in-law Florence (Rodger) of Faribault.

A Celebration of Life for Myron was held Saturday, June 7, 2025, at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Maple Lake, Minnesota. Internment will be at Fort Snelling National cemetery at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, Myron requested donations to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, Shriners Children’s Hospital, Leader Dogs for the Blind or CHI St. Joseph’s Health/Laurie Hohnstadt Scholarship (RN degree) or the charity of your choice.

A complete obituary can be found at www.PineKnotNews.com or www.NeptuneSociety.com.