Morris Callahan

Morris “Morrie” Callahan, age 85, of Fargo, died on May 8, 2011, surrounded by his family, at the Minnesota Veterans Home in Fergus Falls, MN. Morrie was born June 29, 1925, near Adams, ND, the son of William and Bessie Callahan. He graduated from Forest River, ND High School and served in the U.S. Navy during WWII, stationed in the Aleutian Islands. He graduated from the University of North Dakota, where he majored in Commerce. He was a member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity and worked at Silverman's Men's Clothing Store throughout college. In 1951, Morrie married Jean Rae Leeby. Morrie and Jean lived in Moorhead for approximately 40 years. He was active in the First Congregational Church of Moorhead, serving as Moderator and Trustee. He served as President of the Fargo-Moorhead Sertoma Club and the Moorhead Rotary Club. He served two terms on the Moorhead School Board and was Chairman of the Fargo-Moorhead Salvation Army Advisory Board. Morrie and Jean joined First Lutheran Church after moving back to Fargo in 1994. Morrie owned several businesses, including Morrie’s Pure Food, Morrie’s Cheese Cave, Morrie’s Mercantile and Leeby’s. He loved spending summers a Lake Melissa, near Detroit Lakes, where he enjoyed golfing and other recreational activities. He was an active member of the YMCA, where he particularly enjoyed playing racquetball. Morrie is survived by his wife of sixty years, Jean (Leeby); sister, Margaret Bolster; brothers, Murphy, Mike and Marvin; daughter, Kate (Schmitz) and husband Mike; son, Brad and wife Joanna; grandchildren, Greta and Benjamin Callahan; Talia, Charles and Tessa Schmitz; and great-grandson, Morris Callahan. The family wishes to express its heartfelt gratitude to the caregivers at the Minnesota Veterans Home, where Morrie received extraordinarily compassionate and professional care in the well-designed patient-friendly facility. Morrie was loved by many and will be deeply missed by his family and friends. The family is planning a celebration of his life in late June and will post a notice in the Forum once schedules are confirmed.