Glen Eldo Albright, 96, of Kenyon, MN, died Sunday, December 22, 2024 at Circle Drive Manor in West Concord, MN. Glen was born on the family farm, Cherry Grove township, Kenyon, MN on March 4, 1928, to Roger and Agnes (Lips) Albright. He was baptized and confirmed at the Methodist church in Kenyon, MN. He attended country school through the 8th grade, Kenyon High School his 9th grade year but he had to quit school to help on the farm. At 17 he was hospitalized at Sister Kinney Institute in Minneapolis for polio. He met his wife to be, Connie Rud, through his sister, Fern, while in in the hospital. On May 1948, they were married at Hauge Lutheran Church in Kenyon. They made their home on the Lips family farm, just down the road from the Albright family farmstead, where they farmed for 10 years. Four children; Jeff, Jim, Carm, and Jon, were born to them during that time.
In the spring of 1958 Glen moved his family into Kenyon and started working for Clark Hardware. He also worked for a time at Jorstad Hardware while attending vocational school at nights to get his plumbing and heating license. He started his own business in 1962. Over the years each of his children had the opportunity to work with their dad. Glen retired from the Plumbing & Heating business in 1991. Glen and Connie had many home projects over the years; constructing a Santa, his sleigh and reindeer, a playhouse and backyard basketball court where many a youth spent time in a quick basketball pickup game or game of horse. Lights and benches insured that there were plenty of kids around, even after dark.
In 1952 Glen and Connie purchased a cabin on Roberds Lake, Faribault, MN. For 59 years the family spent their summers there. As the family grew with the births of Candy, Carrie and Jason, so did the size of the cabin; from 2 rooms to 7 rooms, garage with 1 bedroom apartment, carport with outdoor bathroom and laundry room. Glen’s love for fishing started at a young age going fishing with his dad, then at their lake home, in Alaska and with son Jeff in Florida. His last fishing trip was this past October, fishing with son-in-law Dave, sons, Jason and Jon, on Roberds Lake.
Glen and Connie wintered in Arizona for 20 years. They traveled through the lower 48 and to Alaska many times to spend time with family. They also were able to travel to Hawaii, Spain, Morocco, England, Germany, Austria, and Yugoslavia.
Glen is survived by five children; Jeff (Debbie) Albright of Avon Park, Florida, Jon (Cher) Albright of Wasilla, Alaska, Carm (Brad) Nesseth, Randy Braaten, Carrie (Dave) Stevenson, Jason (Leora) Albright all of Kenyon; 12 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren and 2 great, great grandchildren, sister Betty (Stan) Johnson of Rochester, MN; nieces and nephews and first cousins on both the Albright and Lips side of the family.
Glen was preceded in death by his wife Connie in 2017, son Jim, daughter Candy, sister Fern Rud, brother Curtis Albright, brothers-in-law Glenn Rud, Hobe Lucas and sister-in-law Jean Lucas.
Glen donated his body to further the medical education and research mission of Mayo Clinic. A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, July 12, 2025 at 11:00, visitation 10:00 at Hauge Lutheran Church, Kenyon, MN. Memorials are preferred to the Old Stone Church, Kenyon, MN.
