Pastor Broughton

Pastor Vern Broughton, 81, of Deerwood, passed away Saturday, November 18 at Northern Lakes Senior Living and Memory Care in Brainerd. A Celebration of Vern’s Life will be held at 11 AM, Monday, November 27, 2017 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Brainerd with Pastor Mark Skinner officiating. Family and friends are invited to gather one hour prior to services. Vern will be buried at the Deerwood Cemetery at 5 PM on Monday.

Vern was born to Hulda and Orvin Broughton on February 29, 1936 in Lynd, MN. He attended Lynd Public Schools and Augustana Academy before graduating from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD in 1958. He continued his education at Lutheran Theological Seminary in St. Paul, MN and was ordained into the American Lutheran Church on July 8, 1962.

Vern was united in marriage to Janis Nolby on July 15, 1961 and the couple was blessed with two daughters, Julie and Amy. The family moved to cities where Vern accepted calls to serve: Sioux Falls, Lead, Rapid City, and a return to Sioux Falls. He retired after providing church ministry for 25 years. Vern furthered his education and training at Riverside Medical Center Chaplaincy Program. Vern and Janis built a home on Cedar Lake near Deerwood and he committed the next 30 years of his life to serving as the first Protestant Chaplain in the history of St. Joseph’s Medical Center (Catholic Based) Ministry.

Vern was a loving husband, father and grandfather “Pau”. He was a great son, brother, neighbor and friend. He will be remembered as a log cabin-builder, canoe trip artist and craftsman, and a fisher of men and crappies. He will be cherished for the ministry and comfort he was able to give so many.

Vern is survived by his daughters, Julie (Tony Olin), of Redwing and Amy (Brock Bukkila), of Aitkin; grandchildren, Farris Hussain, of St. Paul, Nadia Hussain, of Austin, TX, Madeline Olin, of Redwing, Teagan Olin, of Northfield, and Leila Hussain, of Minneapolis; and sister, LaVonne (Merlyn Inglett), of Adrian. His wife, Janis; parents, Hulda and Orvin; and sister, Vivian preceded him in death.