Roy Yonker
TYLER-Roy Yonker, age 93, of Tyler, MN passed away August 29, 2025. Memorial Services will be held on Saturday, September 27, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. at First English Lutheran Church in Tyler. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Military honors will follow the service at the church. Reception following.
Roy was the son of Benjamin Otto and Agnes Marie (Fehland) Yonker. He was #10 of 10 siblings. He grew up in Bellingham, MN till his family moved to Lake Benton, MN in 1944 where they owned and operated a locker plant, meat market and grocery store. Only 13 at the time, he didn’t know what to think of moving to Lake Benton.
After graduating from Lake Benton High School in 1951, Roy joined the US Navy on June 5th and served till 1955. He was aboard the USS Remey (DD688) as a Boilerman BT2. His ship docked in areas of Japan, Philippines, Crossed the International Dateline, crossed the Equator, to name a few.
Roy married Marlene L. Swanson on November 12, 1955, and would have celebrated 70 years of marriage in 2025. They made their home in Lake Benton till 1982 when they moved to Tyler.
After an early honorable discharge from Navy, due to family hardships, he came home to help with the family business. He took over his brother’s milk business in July 1955 delivering milk to rural customers as well as schools and when he couldn’t compete with the big boys, his milk days ended in May 1975. He took a custodial job at the school in Tyler in April 1975. He was head custodian from 1985 till the end of 1993 when he retired. During his milk business days he also drove school bus full time for Lake Benton and Tyler. He loved the kids while working at the school and formed many friendships. The Tyler Class of 1979 dedicated the Tylerian yearbook to Roy. And if he wasn’t busy enough, he refed sports on the side. Roy has been a member of the American Legion in Tyler for 72 years. He holds the most years!
Roy was very competitive in sports way back to his high school days and beyond. He loved the game of golf! He may not have gotten his hole-in-one, but it wasn’t because he didn’t try. Roy and Marlene enjoyed winters in Arizona for several years as well as road trips on their motorcycles and later on, Can Am trikes. Roy enjoyed time with his grandchildren, Kayla and Kevin! He was their #1 fan! His great-grandchildren, although very young, he seemed to remember them and always asked when they were coming to visit.
Roy is survived by his wife, Marlene (Swanson) Yonker of Tyler, son Kevin Yonker of Apache Junction AZ, daughter Karen (Lon) Huso of Cottonwood, grandchildren; Kayla Barland and daughters Ava and Evie of Princeton MN, Kevin (Amanda) Crawford and sons Kacen and Kody of Big Lake, MN.
He is preceded in death by his parents, brothers; Melvin, Wilbur, Robert, Glenn, Leonard, Verne, sisters, Bernice Krog, Lucille Williams, Verna ‘Honey’ Nordmeyer and great grandson Kamm Barland.