Gary David "Cecil" Hutton, 74, of rural Kenyon, died Monday, August 24, 2026, at his home.
Cecil was born February 18, 1952, to Cecil and Marian Hutton in Northfield, Minnesota. He grew up on the family dairy farm near Little Prairie, Dundas. Cecil grew up doing chores and milking cows from an early age with his parents and five brothers. He was active in the Full O’Pep 4H club showing dairy cattle and he wrestled in high school.
Cecil attended Dundas and Northfield schools, graduating in 1970, and from there he attended two years of college at the U of M. Summer jobs driving spray trucks for AgriHelicopters in Owatonna led him to work towards his pilot’s license. He traveled to Oklahoma to get his pilot’s training at Allied Helicopters in Tulsa. From there, he sprayed crops by helicopter for 34 years. Cecil was a talented and hard working pilot who loved flying over the countryside. He often said, “You know there is a God when you see the beauty of nature from the air.”
Cecil married Robin Shimpach on October 10, 1981, after meeting her in a cornfield. They lived in Cherry Grove Township for four years and then moved to the Flom Brother’s Farm in Sogn Valley. Here they raised three children, Neil (New Zealand), Vincent (Oregon), Tamsen (Minneapolis). Cecil was so proud of his children, and encouraged them in music, education and sports.
On the 40 acre farm, Cecil planted thousands of trees, beginning in the spring of 1986. He put in two dams, three ponds, a ball field, and many miles of fence for the horses. His goal was to have a wildlife refuge, which became a reality. He was awarded the Outstanding Woodland Manager by the Goodhue County Soil and Conservation District. The last few years he was delighted to have a pair of kingfishers nest by his ponds. Cecil was so proud of his farm.
Cecil loved bluegrass music, George Strait, Reba McIntire and barbershop music. He loved to sing, and was a tenor in his family’s barbershop quartet, “Dad and His Lads”. He sang with his dad, the “Real” Cecil, and brothers Duane and Darrell. Cecil loved to listen to St. Olaf and Concordia concerts online. College sports were another favorite weekend activity, he’d watch online when he couldn’t get to the games.
Talking and visiting with anyone and everyone he met was a favorite pastime. From the nurses and doctors at the hospital, to the farmers, grocery checkout workers, to people he just met, he loved to ask them questions and find out all about their life histories if he could.
In the last 10 years, Cecil struggled with his health. He tried to stay positive, and kept up with his mowing and upkeep on the farm the best he could. For years he had a giant garden up on the hill where he grew beautiful, huge vegetables that he sold at the Farmer’s Markets in Cannon Falls and Dennison. He loved to feed the birds and planted some perennials down by his shed, where he had a feeding station he could see from his office.
Cecil is survived by his wife, Robin; sons, Neil (Charlotte), Vincent; daughter, Tamsen; grandchildren, Stella and Jules; brothers, Duane (Linda), Lynn (Dawn), Brian (Pam) and many nieces and nephews. Cecil was preceded in death by his parents, Marian and Cecil and brothers, Darrell and Paul.
A Memorial Service will be held 2:00 PM, Saturday, September 12, 2026, at Holden Lutheran Church in Kenyon. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church.
