Marion "Ted" Theodore Spain

Marion Theodore "Ted" Spain, son of Willie and Lelia (Leatherman) Spain was born May 22nd, 1923 in Montezuma, Iowa. He passed away on August 29th, 2026 in Albert Lea, Minnesota.

A Memorial Service will be held for Ted on Saturday, September 5, 2026 at Bonnerup Funeral & Cremation Service, 2210 East Main Street, Albert Lea, MN 56007, beginning at 1 PM. A visitation will be held prior beginning at 11:30 AM. He will be deeply missed by many, but his faith in The Lord assured him he will see those close to his heart again. 

Ted's family moved to Hollandale, MN when he was four years old. He attended elementary school in Maple Island, high school in Albert Lea graduating with the class of 1941. Ted served in the Navy from 1942 to 1946 during which time he met and married Ruth Geneva Huff from South Carolina who was working in Washington DC. After being trained as a radar technician he was sent to the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington DC, where continuing research and development was conducted on radar and radio communications. He was on a team involved in designing a powerful new radar needed for the invasion of Japan. It was top-secret AAA priority and money was no object - it was called Project Cadillac. It was ready to launch when the atomic bomb ended the war. While it was not needed for that war the research continued development down through the years brought it to what is called AWACS today. It's that strange looking aircraft flying off a carrier with a large "dish" mounted on top.

After separation from military service, he and Ruth returned to Hollandale and farmed 40 years growing potatoes and onions. To this union two children were born, Sheila Dawn Spain, currently living with her husband, Stephen L Gomes in Beaverton, OR and Galen Mark Spain who married Elaine Godeke. Galen preceded him in death in 2019.  Ted's Grandchildren are Dawn Jodell of Beaverton, OR, Douglas Goodwin (Jill) of Beaverton, OR, Ben Spain (Stacey) of Edmond, OK, Sarah Olson (Jim) of Bryant, SD, and Daniel Spain (Kristen) of Cannon City, CO .

Ted's Great Grandchildren are Marisa, Elias, Grayce, Izzie, Annika, Isaiah, Hanna, Corbin and Athena and great-great grandchildren, Harper, Jameson and Jax.

In Ted and Ruth's retirement they loved to travel in their fifth wheel trailer six months out of the year for thirteen years in every state in the union They seldom stayed more than two or three weeks in one place but moved on to something new and different. They also enjoyed trips to Hawaii, Alaska and Israel.

In the community Ted served on the board of the Hollandale Farm Labor Service, Hollandale Cemetery and a member of the Hollandale Marketing Association. He was also on the Moscow Township Board for twenty years. He was chairman of Freeborn County Association of Township Officers for several years. He loved making things out of wood or iron, including toys for his children and grandchildren, the home they lived in and machinery for farming. He and his son Galen were avid amateur radio operators communicating globally, and providing emergency service in floods, tornados and servicemen in the Vietnam War.

Ted belonged to the Conservative Congregational Church in Hollandale and was active there for 40 years as teacher in Sunday School and Bible Camp, youth leader, elder on the board and leader at the conference level. He was on the first board of the Migrant Mission Society. He was on the first board of Youth for Christ in Albert Lea. In 1995 he helped organize and became a charter member of Crossroads Evangelical Free Church in Albert Lea. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, William J.P. Spain, his wife, Ruth Geneva Spain (Huff) and his son, Galen Mark Spain.

In Ted's later years, he found meaning in his relationships and the communities in which he lived, becoming a favorite in every community he joined. He cherished simple pleasures in nature and maintained a relentless curiosity about new discoveries in science and technology. He enjoyed using his iPad and iPhone-casting them to his television and connecting them to his hearing aids. He delighted in exploring the latest inventions in technology. Toward the end of his life, Ted often reflected on the importance of relationships in life. He loved laughing with friends, telling stories, and sharing life with those around him.