H A Upton

H.A. Uppie Upton, age 90, of Lake Crystal, died Wednesday, December 27, 2006 at Immanuel-St. Josephs Hospital, Mankato.

Private family services will be held. There will be a public visitation from 5-7 p.m., Tuesday, January 2, 2007 at Lake Crystal Mortuary. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery in Long Prairie, Minnesota

Uppie was born October 8, 1916 in Long Prairie. He was the son of Luff and Sophia (Shinkle) Upton. Uppie attended school in Long Prairie. He started buying and selling cars at the age of 13 after he sold his bicycle to buy his first car. He was united in marriage to Josephine Bertczyk in April of 1938. Uppie served in the Army Air Corps, later the 20th Air Force, during WWII in the Pacific Theater, Philippines, and Guam. He moved to Lake Crystal and started Uppies on September 1, 1955 and retired in 1981. Following Josephines death in 1971, Uppie married Betty Bucellatto in August of 1972. She passed away in 1984. Uppie later married Helen Bolsta on November 23, 1985. He was a member of First Methodist Church in Lake Crystal.

Uppie is survived by his wife, Helen of Lake Crystal; two sons, Bud (Sue) Upton of Truman and Mike (Pam) Upton of Lake Crystal; son-in-law, Bob Stevensen of Madelia; eight grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren; three stepchildren, Cherrie (Duane) Wozniak of Maple Grove, Glenn (Teri) Bolsta of Bristol, VT, and Gordy (Patty) Bolsta of Big Stone City, SD; nine step grandchildren, five step-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his first two wives, Josephine and Betty; daughter, Virginia; son, Bobby; and one great-grandchild.