Reed Qualey, 63

Reed Richard Qualey, 63, of Cannon Falls, Minn., formerly of Finley, N.D., passed away Thursday, Aug. 9, at St. Mary's Hospital in Duluth, Minn., due to complications from pneumonia and septic shock. Reed was surrounded by his family and love from his community when he passed on.

Reed was born on Nov. 11, 1948, in Valley City, N.D., son of Richard and Lenore (Rosendahl) Qualey. Reed grew up on the Qualey Family farm in Cooperstown, N.D., until he graduated from Finley-Sharon High School. He continued his education at North Dakota State University in Fargo, N.D., where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in pharmacology. While attending NDSU, he was a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity, and he also met and married Karla Renee Church of Campbell, Minn. (they later divorced). After graduating, Reed and Karla began their family and purchased his first pharmacy in Hillsboro, N.D. In 1981, Reed sold his pharmacy and moved back to Cooperstown, N.D., where he ran the family farm until 1988. In the fall of 1988, Reed and his family moved to Cannon Falls where he purchased Scofield Drug which he owned and operated until May 2011.

Reed believed in supporting and serving his community. He was active in the Chamber of Commerce, hospital board, First Farmers and Merchants Bank board of directors, amongst other organizations within Cannon Falls. He was a very philanthropic man. He supported a multitude of clubs, organizations, and events within Cannon Falls and delighted in the success, progress, and growth of his community. He was a member of St. Ansgar's Lutheran Church where he served on the church council and choir for many years.

Reed thrived on helping people. He would always go the extra mile to ensure his patients and customers felt special and that they were satisfied with their service, never asking or expecting anything in return. Reed was a tinkerer. He was very creative and liked to make something his "own" because something could always be a little bit better. He admired classic cars and was a member of the Cannon Cruisers Club and had a great appreciation for making things shinier and louder.

Reed's overall passion in life was his family. Between his children, grandchildren, and "his Becky," there was no such thing as downtime to him. You could always find him cooking/grilling/smoking something for a family dinner, going to dance competitions or Boy Scouts, pheasant hunting, or showing his grandkids how to properly plant and tend to a garden.

He is survived by Rebecca Brown (his love) of Cannon Falls; two daughters, Tara (Justan) Duden and Laura (Ken Walls) Qualey; two twin sons, Richard (Sarah) Qualey and Ryan (Mandi) Qualey, all of Cannon Falls; stepson, Sam (Marlayna) Remillard of Randolph, Minn.; 10 grandchildren: Mason and Charlize Duden, Madeline Gander, Elliot Qualey, Vienna, Amelia, Tristin, and Brezlun Qualey, Cortney Walls, and Breckyn Whiting; two brothers, Neil (Carmen) Qualey, Moorhead, Minn., and Brent (Mary) Qualey, Fargo; two sisters, Sheryl (Lee) Vinje of Portland, N.D., and Annette (Michael) Bakken of Mayville, N.D.; along with numerous adored nieces, nephews, friends, and "his girls" at Scofield Drug & Gift.

Preceding him in death were his parents and his brother-in-law S. Lee Vinje.

There was no one quite like Reed Qualey!

Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Monday, Aug. 13, at St. Ansgar's Lutheran Church in Cannon Falls, and also 1 hour prior to the service. Celebration of Life service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 14, at the bandshell at John Burch Park (athletic field) in Cannon Falls. In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer donations made to the Cannon Falls Education Foundation, 820 W. Minnesota St., Cannon Falls, MN 55009.

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