David Micheal “Binky” Hess of Hovland passed away on Dec. 30, 2016 at North Shore Hospital after a short battle with cancer.
Binky was born to David and Marion (Parker) Hess on May 4, 1956 in Anoka, Minnesota. The family moved to Hovland when Binky was 5. He grew up at Flutereed General Store and Bar, helping his parents and learning how to tell a good story.
He attended local schools and was a member of the Cook County Class of 1974 and graduated from Wadena Vo-Tech in 1975. He then worked for Knowlton Plumbing for eight years.
Through the years, Binky worked at the Flutereed, as a carnie, as a logger, garbage truck driver, as truck driver for Edwin Thoreson, semi driver for Tex Donek and then was self-employed driving his pink Peterbilt.
In his younger years, Binky loved spending time at the Hess family cabin on East Pike, which is now part of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. He enjoyed fishing, boating and snowmobiling there.
Binky enjoyed tinkering with machines. He could make anything run. He was a regular at mud bogs on the North Shore, building unstoppable mud trucks.
He met his future wife Annie Nicolaison in school. Annie fell for Bink because of his charm—and his racy red rally sport Camaro convertible. They were married October 17, 1975 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Hovland and had a wedding dance at the Hovland Town Hall.
Together they built a family home In Grand Marais and a cabin on McFarland Lake. Binky was always ready to help the neighbors —plowing the road, loaning tools, helping build cabins and serving as the “McFarland Walmart of the North.”
Binky and Annie spent many happy years at the lake, spending time with kids, grandkids, and many friends, jet skiing, snowmobiling, playing cards, hosting pig roasts and just being at the lake. Binky loved the annual 4th of July pontoon flotillas. He was a great host and he loved a good party, especially if Keystone was involved.
Binky was preceded in death by his father, David Charles Hess; his brother, Timothy Dean Hess; and an infant sister; his in-laws Carl and Percy Nicolaison; and brother-in-law Chris Nicolaison.
He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Annie Hess; his children, Billi (Jack Lusero) Carlson, David “Porky” (Dawn Dahl) Hess, Pamela “PJ” Wilson, Michele “Goosie” (Ben) Silence; son-in-laws Jay “Gyro” Carlson, Jake “Cob” Wilson; nine grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; his mother Marion “Snooks” Sevelin; siblings Charles Hess, Linda (Rusty) Nicolaison, Jan (Tracy) Donaldson; and a multitude of friends that were like family to him.
A memorial service was held at Bethlehem Lutheran Church on Thursday, January 5. A celebration of life followed the service at Grandma Ray’s.
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