Obituaries

Sep 20, 2020

Jimmie “Jim” Vincent Dano passed away on September 20, 2020 at Essentia St. Joseph Medical Center. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, September 30 ,2020 at 11 am at St. Christopher’s Catholic Church with Father Michael Patullo officiating.  A Gathering  of famiy and friends will be held one hour prior. Interment will be at the Pequot...

Sep 20, 2020

Thomas Vogel, 61, of Pillager passed away unexpectedly at his home on September 20, 2020.

Mass of Christian Burial was held on Thursday, September 24, 2020 at Brenny Family Funeral Chapel in Staples, Minnesota. Interment is at Evergreen Hill Cemetery in Staples.

Thomas was born to Harold and Bernice (Cronin) Vogel on June 09, 1959...

Sep 19, 2020

Marilyn Lee Gates (nee Sabo), was born on February 16, 1940, at the Swedish Hospital in Minneapolis. She earned her angel wings on September 19, 2020 and is now at peace in Heaven. Preceded in death by parents, Edith and Elmer Sabo, and sister, Gloriann (Wayne) Kessler. Survived by husband, Carl Gates and his sons, Tim (Debbie) and Tom...

Sep 19, 2020

Robert Darrell “Bob” Balko, age 80, of Lake Shore, MN, passed away after an unexpected illness and died peacefully in his home September 19, 2020. Bob was born in Redwood Falls, MN to parents Erwin A. Balko and Irene (Clift) Balko. After receiving his GED, Bob enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in the 82nd Airborne Division as a...

Sep 19, 2020

Chance Bertrand, 44, died unexpectedly Saturday, September 19, in Eden Prairie, MN. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 26 beginning at 12 pm with a visitation one hour prior to the service. The service will be immediately followed by Military Honors and a luncheon at Brenny Funeral Home in Baxter, MN.

Chance Evan Bertrand...

Sep 14, 2020

Lowell McNamee, age 85, of Pequot Lakes, passed away Monday, September 14, 2020, at Good Samaritan Society, Pine River. He was born to Harold and Alma McNamee on November 13, 1934, in Watertown, SD.

Lowell is survived by his son, Barry (Deb); daughters, Vicki Martin and Tracy Tulenchik; brother, Harold McNamee; grandchildren: Brandon (Jamie), Chelsey (Kayla), Devon...

Sep 14, 2020

Colleen Sue “Sally” Norby passed away peacefully at home on Monday, September 14, 2020 surrounded by family.  She was born in Wells, Minnesota, on October 23, 1938.

Sally was preceded in death by her parents, Lee and Hazel Kraushaar; sisters, Barb (Del) Stormo, Chloe (Milt) Johnson; brothers: Donovan (Joyce) Kraushaar, Murray (June) Kraushaar, and David “Buzz” (Kathy) Kraushaar. She...

Sep 12, 2020

Eleanor Lena Foy, age 92 of Brainerd, passed away peacefully Saturday, September 12th, 2020 at Carefree Living in Brainerd. A private memorial service will be held in Eleanor’s honor, followed by a burial at Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery, Little Falls. All arrangements have been entrusted to Brenny Family Funeral Chapel, Baxter.

Eleanor was born on November 8th,...

Sep 11, 2020

Rachel Ann Bourassa, age 40, of Brainerd died during the early morning hours of September 11, 2020 at the St. Cloud Hospital; the result of illness and addiction, which never took away her upbeat and outgoing personality.  A memorial service will be held at 1PM on Wednesday, September 16, 2020 at the Brenny Family Funeral Chapel, Baxter.  Visitation will...

Sep 11, 2020

Clair Lynn McGuigan, 73 of Pine River, MN passed away peacefully in her home on September 11, 2020.

Clair (Lynn Hesli) was born in St. Paul, MN on October 6, 1946 to Eugene and Helen Hesli. Clair devoted her life to love, peace, and healing. She was an avid wild ricer, protector of land and water, and...

Sep 11, 2020

Vinson Hirst, age 46, of Backus, MN, died of congestive heart failure on Friday, Sept. 11, 2020, at the St. Cloud Hospital. He was born in Corpus Christi, TX, on March 11, 1974. He graduated from high school there then moved to Florida before ending up in the Pine River area working as a carpenter. Vince loved building things...

Sep 10, 2020

Timothy Lauritz Hojem was born on September 4, 1968 and left this place on September 10, 2020.  He was preceded in death by his devoted parents, David and JoAnne (Pfeiffer) Hojem. He is survived by his sister Jolene Hojem, her husband Eric Lukanen and his two nephews, Kyd and Kai and many cousins near and far.

Tim had so many people that he considered family like...

Sep 10, 2020

Garry Peck, age 75, of Nisswa passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on September 10, 2020.  A gathering of family and friends will from 4-7PM on September 17, 2020 at the Brenny Family Funeral Chapel, Baxter with military honors at 6:30PM.  Interment will be in Wildwood Cemetery, Pillager at a later date.

Garry was born...

Sep 10, 2020

Rausie Jo Cummings of Pine River/Manhattan Beach died unexpectedly on September 10, 2020. At only 16 years old at the time of her death, Rausie touched the lives and hearts of countless people. Although her earthly body is no longer with us, her soul will guide us with the bright shining light of everything she was during her short...

Sep 8, 2020

Betty Lou Tepley, age 87, of Staples died Tuesday, September 8, 2020 at the Lakewood Health Care Center in Staples.  A memorial service will be held at 1PM Thursday, September 17, 2020 at Motley Free Methodist Church in Motley.  Rev.  Jim Johnson will officiate and burial will be in Riverside Cemetery.  Visitation will be one hour prior to services...

Sep 7, 2020

Barbara Monson, age 93, died peacefully at the Good Samaritan Society, Pine River, on September 7, 2020, after living a long, full life.

Barbara grew up in Wanamingo, Minnesota, where she married John Monson in 1948. After she graduated from the Fairview Hospital Nursing program, they moved to Granite Falls where they raised their family.  Barb worked...

Sep 2, 2020

Janene Yvonne Irwin, 77, died Wednesday, September 2nd at her home near Pillager. A Celebration of Janene's Life will be held at 3 PM, on Sunday, September 20th at her home near Pillager.

Janene Y. Marcyes was born on July 12, 1943 in Floodwood, MN, daughter of Charles and Irene (Johnson) Marcyes.  She grew up and was...

Aug 31, 2020

Francine “Fran” Laske, 80, of Nevis and formerly of Moorhead died peacefully surrounded by her family on August 31, 2020.

Born on October 9th, 1939 to Al and Marion Elenbogen in Chicago, Ill.  Fran grew up in the Logan Square neighborhood along with her sister Evelyn.  After High School she attend Wright Jr. College in Chicago and...

Aug 31, 2020

Janet Piecek, 61, of Brainerd passed away at her home on Monday, August 31, 2020.

Funeral services will be held at 3 PM on Wednesday, September 9, 2020 at Brenny Family Funeral Chapel in Baxter, MN. Visitation will be held 1 hour prior.

Janet was born in Crosby, MN on January 06, 1959 to Deloris...

Aug 30, 2020

The world’s greatest truck driver, Richard “Dick” Gillispie, 83, of Pequot Lakes, passed away peacefully at home with family by his side on Sunday, August 30, 2020.  Funeral services will be held Saturday, September 12, 2020 at 2:00pm at the Pleasant Hill Community Church in Pequot Lakes.  Visitation will be held 2 hours prior.  Interment will be in Wildwood...