Manford Hall

Manford Hall was born on a farm in southern Minnesota on November 25, 1919. Preceded in death by Kate Watts, his maternal grandmother who raised him, Mother, Ruth Watts Hall Huston and Father, Harley H. Hall of Huntley Minnesota, his sister Pearl Rynearson (Ellsworth) of Winnebago Minnesota, his Huston sister, Beryle, and brothers Earl, Carl, Bill, Doyle, Bob and Marley also his son-in-law Dewey Greene from Greenwood, MS. Manford is survived by his wife Patrice, his sister Winnie Huston Trenter and other many beloved relatives including all five of his children from his first marriage to the late Erleen Hatch Kehoe: Jon B. Hall (Katia Andreeva), Barbara J. Britain (Paul Endres), William M. Hall (Fredda Haferland), Bonnie J. Olson and Becky J. Harmon (Paul). Nine Grand children: Lori Greene, Clifford Hall, Vanessa Hall Torke, Derek Hall, Brandon Hall, Elda Hall Yee, Joslyn Hall Yohe, Thor Olson, Erik Olson. Nine Great Grand Children: Sophia Hall, Chloe Torke, Faith Torke, Ryder Torke, Isaura Lira Greene, Lalita Lira Greene, Luce Sole Franco Greene, Maddison and Michael Olson. Manford graduated from Stillwater High School, MN in 1936, and earned an M. A. in Social Work from the University of Minnesota. He was on the Varsity Horseshoe Team and he worked one summer on the Alaskan Highway. He served in the U.S. Navy and sang in the Navy Chorus at a memorial for Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. He had a beautiful bass voice and took special pleasure singing with his family on car trips and camping. Manford had many active causes including Mental Retardation, Racial Equality, Lou Gehrig's disease, Clean Shores and Roads. What he wanted most was for people of the world to live in peace: Not a passive peace but an active peace of “building bridges” to span obstacles and bring people together with mutual respect and caring for each other where our differences are valued and celebrated. He served for 25 years in many capacities in the field of Mental Retardation including forming the National Association for Retarded Citizens (Now ARC) where he served as Director of Community Service and Interim Director of ARC; as Executive Director of the Bergen-Passaic A.R.C. in New Jersey; Director of Special Projects focusing on Recreation and Group Activities for persons with M. R. in Washington D. C.; President’s Committee on Mental Retardation under Presidents Kennedy and Johnson; Coordinator for Planning for M.R., District of Columbia; Director, National on the Job Training Project for M.R.; Executive Director, National Association of Private Residential Facilities for M.R., (now ANCOR); Regional Chairman for American Association on Mental Deficiency. (now A.A.M.R.) He was a proud and active supporter of multi-racial and multi-cultural organizations. He was a strong supporter of Father Daisuke Kitagawa who started the Rainbow Club in Minneapolis in the early 50’s, not only for Japanese Americans released from internment centers but to bring families together from all national and racial backgrounds. He became an active Member of CORE, (Congress for Racial Equality); He marched in Selma, AL, and volunteered in Resurrection City in Washington D.C. In 1964 with his two youngest daughters, he attended the March on Washington and heard Martin Luther King give his “I have a dream” speech. He was also a member of the Human Relations Committee in Olathe Kansas for 8 years, and the Olathe Advisory Board for Disabled Persons. Manny has been a long time personal friend and supporter of Arun Gandhi (Grandson of Mahatma K. Gandhi) and Sununda, his wife and co-founder (1991) of the M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence in Memphis, Tennessee. In 1981 he worked closely with Keith and Sue Worthington in creating an organization to help individuals and families with Lou Gehrig's Disease. He later became Executive Director of the Keith Worthington ALS Society in Kansas City serving Kansas and Western Missouri. After serving for 4 years, he volunteered another 6 years. He also served for several years as a member of the State Board of Kansans for the Improvement of Nursing Homes. In addition he served for several years as a member of the Coalition for Independence (an umbrella organization concerned with the rights of people with disabilities). In the Lake of the Ozarks area he was a volunteer for the AmerenUE’s Adopt-the-Shoreline Program. He joined with neighbors to form the Elite Fleet to clean 9 miles of shoreline. He received the first Adopt-the-Shoreline Outstanding Volunteer Award in 1999. He was often seen cleaning the ten-mile stretch of roadsides of Lake Road 135-3 of trash and debris. He was an original member of the Lake Bloomers Garden Club. On May 7, 1999 Manford was as recognized by the Missouri House of Representatives for “his unparalleled efforts toward the betterment of his community.” Manford’s favorite charity was the Nonviolent Peaceforce. Donations may be given in his name through their web site: http://www.nonviolentpeaceforce.org/. Rite of Christian Burial will be held at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, July 8, at the Shrine of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Laurie, with Father Bernie Schmitz officiating. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. Tuesday at the Church. Condolences may be sent online at www.kidwellgarber.com. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Non Violent Peace Force or the Gravois Mills Fire Protection District Fireman’s Fund. Arrangements are under the direction of the Kidwell-Garber Funeral Home in Laurie. (573) 374-7688

Manford Hall

July 5, 2008

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Manford Hall

July 5, 2008

About Us

What We Do

Contact KG/Locations

Grief & Healing

Plan Ahead

Obituaries

Resources

Contact Information

365 Days of Grief Support