On January 5, 2024, Gayland Halter, loving husband and father, passed away at age 92 in Elk River, MN. He was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Lorraine “Laurie” Halter; parents Ed and Kathinka; brother, Cecil (and wives, Avis and Delores); and sister, Pauline Bethel (and husband, Dell). Also preceded in death by Laurie’s brothers, Laurice Koester, Roland Koester, Myron Koester (and wife, Dorothy), Harold Koester (and wife, Charlotte); sister, Lila Koester; and niece, Kristine Watson. He is survived by his sons, Randy (and wife, Laura) and Scott (and wife, Denise); sister, Kay Peterson (and husband, Les); Laurie’s brother, Virgil Koester (and wife, Betty); and grandchildren, Kate Halter, Ben Halter, and Samantha Halter.
If the race would have been one yard shorter, heavily favoured Atlantic Star would have completed a sweep of the three-week-long Claim To Fame series for $12,500-priced pacing mares. As it was, Always Be Lucy flew through the home stretch and needed every foot of the mile to snatch the championship in 1:53 on Tuesday (Jan. 25) at Miami Valley Raceway.