Elmer "Sam" Porter, father of University of St. Thomas faculty member Dr. Mike Porter, passed away Aug. 16.

The elder Porter was born in 1935 to William and Sophie Porter. The family moved to the Menahga area in 1949 and Sam graduated from Menahga High School in 1953. He attended Bemidji State University, obtaining both his undergraduate and graduate degrees in education. He met his wife Betty at a square dance while at BSU, and the two were married in 1959.

Sam began his teaching career in Blackduck. After that, he taught in Thief River Falls and St. Cloud before spending 22 years teaching eighth-grade earth science in Cambridge. 

Sam received a number of accolades over the years, including "Outstanding Young Educator" and "Teacher of the Year" honors. Both he and Betty retired from teaching in 1994 and moved to First Crow Wing Lake. In retirement, Sam was a faithful volunteer, gardener, hunter, fisherman and canoer.

Sam is survived by his wife Betty, their three children and their spouses. The full obituary can be seen here.

In a release issued on the St. Paul university's website, readers were asked to keep the Porter family in their prayers.