Obituary: Wallace “Wally” Payne, 92, of Paynesville
Paynesville ( trfnews.i234.me ) – Wallace “Wally” Payne, 92, of Paynesville, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, at CentraCare Hospital in Paynesville.
Wallace Daniel Payne was born on November 26, 1932, at the old Mercy Hospital in Thief River Falls to Daniel M. and Gladys (Johnson) Payne. He attended Elwell Country School and graduated from Goodridge High School in 1950. Wally pursued higher education at Moorhead State and later North Dakota Agriculture College, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in animal husbandry. In 1958, he completed his Master of Science in range management from NDAC.
On October 20, 1956, Wally married his high school classmate, Jeanette Hanson, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls. Shortly after, he served in the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps, where he worked in creameries and cheese plants across California. Following his honorable discharge, the family returned to Goodridge to farm, where their daughters were born.
In 1965, Wally began a long teaching career at Goodridge Public School, teaching agriculture. In 1971, he moved to Little Falls to teach Veterans Agriculture for nine years before settling in Paynesville in 1980. There, he taught Farm Management until retiring in 1994. Even after retirement, he remained deeply connected to his community, splitting time between Paynesville in the summers and Sun City, Arizona, in the winters.
Wally is survived by his children, Wade Payne of Sun City, AZ, Marsha Damon of Phoenix, AZ, Kathryn Payne of Paynesville, and Wendy Darling of Tempe, AZ; grandchildren Sarah Goldsmith, Reba Twito, Emma Twito, Chloe Darling, and Jack Darling; and great-grandsons Jack and Hank Goldsmith. He was preceded in death by his wife, Jeanette; his parents; and an infant sister.
A private family service will be held at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Little Falls. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to The Green Roof in Paynesville or the Tunnels to Towers Foundation in Wally’s honor. Arrangements are with Johnson Funeral Home in Paynesville.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News
Wallace “Wally” Payne