David Ferguson, 80, Austin

David Eugene Ferguson, 80, of Austin died Tuesday, March 24, 2015, at Comforcare Good Samaritan Center, Austin. 
He was born on a farm near Newry, Minnesota, in Freeborn County where he grew up. David graduated from Blooming Prairie High School in 1953 and obtained his two-year mechanics degree at Dunwoody Industrial Institute in Minneapolis before going to work for several auto and farm machinery dealerships, including implement dealers in Madelia and Owatonna. 
In 1978 he built his own diesel repair shop near Lansing at Interstate 90 and Highway 56. David operated the shop for over 50 years and also lived there. David repaired all kinds of engines but specialized in diesel injection (mostly self-taught). He was internationally known for his diesel innovations and solving problems after other diesel shops failed. 
Happiest when he was talking about or working on tractors, David conducted diesel seminars are the Gathering of the Orange in Hutchinson, Minnesota, and other tractor shows. He collected classic farm tractors of all makes. He enjoyed showing off his tractors at antique tractor pulls, and many area antique tractor shows. 
He was well-respected for his high quality work restoring classic Allis Chalmers tractors. His innovations were featured I books and magazines, including antique tractor magazines, and he continued to receive inquiries from overseas even after he sold his business property and moved to the Cedars of Austin in 2012.
His participation in tractor shows and his expertise will be missed. He will be especially missed by family and friends.
Survivors include two brothers, A. Owen (Lorraine) Ferguson of Blooming Prairie and Phillip (Linda) Ferguson of Rochester; two sisters, Norma (William) Johnson of Englewood, Colorado, and Carol (Ward) Voorhees of Morris, Minnesota; nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, two great-great nieces and other relatives and friend. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ross and Florence Ferguson.