Omer Kenneth Preston Jr., 75, of Bemidji, MN died Saturday, April 1, 2023 at the Sanford Bemidji Medical Center.
Memorial Services were held at 2 p.m. Friday, April 7, 2023 at the Cease Family Funeral Home in Bemidji, MN., with visitation an hour prior to the service. Interment will be at the Greenwood Cemetery in Bemidji, MN under the direction of the Cease Family Funeral Home in Bemidji.
He was born on April 9, 1947, in Park River, ND, the son of Omer Sr. and Eva (Wilcox) Preston. At the age of 3 his family moved to Bemidji, MN, where he was raised and educated. As a young man he moved to Arizona and started his career in mining. He began as a core driller, and worked his way up to lead technician, heavy equipment operator, a pit boss, and drove huge 240-ton haul trucks. He married Loretta Alvarez in Arizona, and together they raised their daughters. In 1999 he moved back to Minnesota, and drove long haul truck over the road. He enjoyed watching the news, and especially enjoyed Old Western TV shows and movies.
He is survived by his daughters Tina Hamilton, Lynda (Valerio) Garcia and Jeannie Preston, 4 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren, stepson Jon (Karen) Puffe, and sisters Kathryn Osmundson, Lorraine Brownlee, Naomi Erickson, Penny Huffman and Candy Kilpala.
He was preceded in death by his parents, daughter Eva Preston, wife Olive, and siblings Donna Settingsgard, Gwen Mouton, Lucine Renskers, Vivian Fisher, John Rodney Preston, Janice Bahr, Lanny Preston, Rodger Preston and Ernie Preston.
Condolences may be left at ceasefuneralhome.com.
