Malcolm Russell Struthers, 83, of Austin, Minnesota, passed away Saturday, June 22, 2019, at his home.

Mal was born on Nov. 5, 1935, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, to Rosco and Katherine (Sutton) Struthers. He attended a three-room school in Sprague, Manitoba, Canada. Mal married Ilyne Alice Olson on Aug. 21, 1954, in Warroad, Minnesota. They lived in Warroad for the first few years of their married life. They moved to Centuria, Wisconsin, where Mal was a lineman. He and Ilyne started a successful lumberyard, Struthers Building Mart, in Centuria. After 10 years, they sold the lumberyard in order to move to Ilyne’s hometown, Warroad. They packed up the variety store Ilyne had started in Centuria and moved it to Warroad. They operated Variety Village in Warroad, selling it in 1983. Mal and Ilyne had three children and were later divorced. Mal married Peggy Gauthier on May 7, 1994. During his retirement, Mal worked at the Beer Depot in Austin, which Peggy managed. Mal loved going to coffee, dancing (he met Peggy at a dance in Baudette, Minnesota) and working with the public. He will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Mal is survived by his children, Gale Struthers of Bemidji, Minnesota, and Holly (LaDon) Howes of Bemidji; Peggy’s children, John (Melissa) Wilder of Manhattan, Illinois, Jeffrey Wilder of Plano, Texas, Jodi (Michael) Ring of Baudette, Jennifer (Tim) Nordlof of Baudette and Jane Wilder of Baudette; brother, Doug (Ev) Struthers; sister, Joyce McDonnell; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Rosco and Katherine Struthers; son, Malcolm Russell Struthers Jr.; sisters, Marion Blanchfield, Katherine (Kay) Adams and Beverly (Bev) Struthers; and brother, Ross Struthers.

Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 29, 2019, at Helgeson Funeral Home Chapel in Baudette. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.worlein.com.