Obituaries

Nov 17, 2019

Dennis Lee Bergman, age 68, of Pillager and formerly of Chanhassen died Sunday, November 17, 2019.  A private family service will take place at the Brenny Family Funeral Chapel in Baxter.

Dennis was born on October 26, 1951 in Britton, South Dakota to Ralph and Meryl (Winder) Bergman.  When Dennis was a small child, his family moved...

Nov 17, 2019

Steven Deszamp, age 63, of Backus, and formerly NW Minneapolis, died Sunday, November 17, 2019, peacefully surrounded by family and friends. Survived by long-time companion, Bonnie L’Allier and many stepchildren, step grandchildren and step great grandchildren.

Visitation will be on Saturday, December 7, 2019, at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Pine River, beginning at...

Nov 16, 2019

Nancy Lee (Kinville) Meyer, 68, of Baxter, Minnesota died November 16, 2019. A celebration of Nancy’s life will be held 3-6:00PM, December 6, 2019 at Brenny Family Funeral Chapel in Baxter, MN.

Nancy was born in Saginaw, Michigan on September 6, 1951 to Francis and Amelia Kinville. She married her love of 37 years, Wayne Meyer, on June 6, 1995. Nancy...

Nov 14, 2019

Margaret A. Jorgenson, 98, of Pine River, MN, passed away peacefully on November 14, 2019. She was born on May 8, 1921, in Cumberland, WI, to the late Fred and Olive Schiebel. Margaret married Orlyn Jorgenson and moved from Cumberland, WI, to Brooten, MN, and then to Anoka, MN.

Prior to retirement, Margaret was the...

Nov 13, 2019

Walter M. Sowers, 84, Leader, MN, died Wednesday, November 13th at the Sanford Bemidji Medical Center with his loving family at his side. Walt’s service will be held at 11 AM, Tuesday, November 19th at Faith Lutheran Church, Staples. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 PM, Monday, November 18th at the Brenny Family Funeral Chapel, Staples and...

Nov 12, 2019

Ardis Otterson, 86, of Caledonia, MN, died peacefully on November 12, 2019, at Golden Horizons in Crosslake, MN.

Ardis Mae Otterson was born on May 26, 1933, in Red Wing MN, to Clarence and Ione Trulen.  She grew up in Red Wing, graduated from Red Wing High School, and received a scholarship to Rockford College in Rockford,...

Nov 10, 2019

Tom Rimarcik, 70, of Minneapolis and Randall, finished his life’s journey on Sunday, November 10, 2019 surrounded by his four daughters.  Please join Tom’s family as they celebrate his life from 4-7 PM, Thursday, November 21 at the Brenny Family Funeral Chapel (301 Pacific Avenue, Randall, MN 56475). A private interment will take place at Cushing Union Cemetery.

Nov 10, 2019

Craig Thomas Valenty, age 66, of Pillager and formerly of Minneapolis died Sunday, November 10, 2019 at North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale. Craig had many health challenges in the past 20 years; he never once waivered in his positivity and always pursued answers in medical research. A Celebration of Craig’s life will be at 1 PM on Thursday, November...

Nov 10, 2019

Donna M. Smith, 81, of Motley, passed away November 10, 2019 at Staples Care Center. She was born January 28, 1938 to Theodore and Violet (Killian) Dukowitz in Villard Township.

Donna is survived by her children, Carolyn Jean (Lee) Etzler Smith, Darlene (Richard) Etzler Champagne, Sue (Walter) Etzler Hall, Duane (Tammy) Etzler; 6 grandchildren; 9 great grandchildren;...

Nov 10, 2019

Gladys Mae Smith, age 87, of Baxter died Sunday, November 10, 2019 at Essentia Health – St. Joseph Medical Center in Brainerd.  A memorial service will be held at 2PM on Saturday, November 23, 2019 at the Brenny Family Funeral Chapel, Baxter.  Visitation will be one hour prior to services and a private family burial will be in Scandia...

Nov 9, 2019

Mary Beth (Nyquist) (Birkeland) MacMillan, age 82, of Pine River, passed away Saturday, November 9, 2019, at Golden Horizons in Crosslake. She was born February 14, 1937, in Crookston, MN, to Andrew and Artha Nyquist.

Mary Beth graduated from Oklee High School and Concordia College. In college, she worked at Breezy Point Resort and Birkeland’s...

Nov 8, 2019

Marie Schmidt, 95, Staples, died Friday, 11-8-2019 at Lakewood Health Systems Care Center, Staples, with her loving family at her side. Visitation for Marie will be from 10 to 11 AM, Wednesday, 11-13-2019 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Motley, with the service to follow at 11 AM, the Reverend Paul E. Koehler officiating. Burial will be at the Motley City Cemetery,...

Nov 6, 2019

Ardis Authier Ryle, age 101 if Staples, MN died at Sun City Center Florida on November 6th, 2019. She was born June 24, 1918 at Jefferson, SD to Ray and Stella Authier.  She graduated from Central High School in Sioux City, Iowa in 1936.

August 31, 1940 she married Gerald M. Ryle at Sioux City, IA.

Nov 5, 2019

Regina Marie “Jean” Rau, 94, died Tuesday, 11-5-2019 at CRMC (Cuyuna Regional Medical Center)  in Crosby, MN.  The Mass of Christian Burial for Jean will be at 11 AM, Friday, November 9 th at Immaculate Heart Catholic Church in Crosslake, with visitation for one hour prior to the Mass.  Interment will take place at Pelican Woods, Breezy Point, following...

Nov 5, 2019

Avis Ann Chase, 84, of Aitkin, Minnesota died Tuesday November 5, 2019. A visitation will be 5-7 PM Friday, November 8, 2019 at Brenny Family Funeral Chapel in Baxter. A memorial service will be held at 2:00PM on Saturday, November 9, 2019 at Heritage Assembly of God, Aitkin Campus, with an additional visitation one hour prior.

Avis...

Nov 4, 2019

JoAnn Hoskin, age 91, a resident of Bethany Good Samaritan Society, Brainerd, formerly of Pequot Lakes and Brainerd, passed away Monday, November 4, 2019. JoAnn was born to Purlie and Inez Dixon on February 1, 1928, in Bloomfield, IA. She was proud of her work at St. Joseph’s Medical Center Dietary Department and also as a Walmart...

Nov 3, 2019

Donald Jerome Dravis passed away November 3, 2019 peacefully surrounded by family. Mass of Christian Burial will be held November 8, 2019 at 11:00AM at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Staples, MN. A visitation will be one hour prior. An additional visitation will be Thursday November 7, 2019 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church from 4-8:00PM, with a prayer service...

Nov 3, 2019

Michael Paul Ledford was born February 22, 1960 and passed away in his home in Nisswa, MN, on Sunday, November 3, 2019. He was born and raised in Minneapolis. Mike was known as a great friend to many and was a loving father and husband. He was an avid fisherman and outdoorsman. Mike was a well-known business...

Nov 2, 2019

Vilma Anna (Semmler) Brochhagen, age 92, of Backus, passed away on November 2, 2019, at Lakewood Care Center in Staples, MN. She was born December 6, 1926, in Ree Heights, SD, to John and Emelie Semmler. Vilma and her twin brother, Vilo, were the youngest of 11 children. Early in her life, the family moved to the...

Nov 2, 2019

Gayle Ann Schmidt (Jaschke), 74, formerly of Little Falls died on November 2, 2019 in Bend, Oregon. Services will be 2pm on May 29th, 2021 at the Brenny Family Funeral Chapel, Randall. Following will be a burial at the St. James Parish Cemetery.