Obituaries

May 9, 2021

Joseph “Joe” E. Gemlo, age 75, of Aitkin and formerly of Spring Lake Park died Thursday, April 1, 2021 at his home in Aitkin.  A celebration of Joe’s life will be held from 1-6 on Sunday, May 23, 2021 at Scott’s Barn.  Arrangements have been entrusted to Brenny Family Funeral Chapel, Baxter.

Joe was born May 19, 1945 in North...

May 9, 2021

Les Manska, 83 of Pillager, passed away June 28, 2021 at his home.

Les was born on March 9, 1938 to Clifford and Minnitta Manska in Benson, Minnesota. He graduated from Hinkley High School. After school, Les enlisted into the Army and served two years in Germany.

On June 7, 1986 he married Judy Gault. He worked at Forklifts of...

May 8, 2021

Dennis Herman Dischinger was born in Dayton, MN to parents Herman and Alice (Scharber) Dischinger on April 9, 1939.  He was raised in Fletcher on the family farm and attended St Walburga Catholic Church.  He graduated from St Michael High School in 1958.

Dennis married Drusilla Prybilla and raised five sons.  He married Lynne (McHugo) Bird and...

May 6, 2021

Leo Homer Fraser – Dec. 3, 1926 – May 6, 2021

CROSSLAKE – Leo (94) was born Dec. 3, 1926 in Pine River to Homer & Alice (Kosse) Fraser.  Leo graduated from Pine River School in 1943.  In 1944 he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served until June 1946. He returned to Crosslake and was employed...

May 6, 2021

Donna Perlinger, 91, of Woodbury, MN, died Thursday, May 6, 2021 at St. Therese in Woodbury, MN.  Mass of Christian burial will take place 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 22 at St. Mathias Catholic Church, with Father Daniel Weiske officiating.  Family and friends are invited to gather for visitation one hour prior to the service at the church. Donna...

May 6, 2021

Lowell Albert Liebenow was born on January 4, 1942, to Clarence and Alice (Knop) in Fargo, North Dakota, and died on May 6, 2021, at the Good Samaritan Center in Pine River, Minn. After his birth, he lived near Chaffee. N.D. When he was a young child, the family moved to Crawford Lake, Minn., to be close to his...

May 5, 2021

Ruth Marion Stenberg, 95, passed away peacefully Wednesday morning, May 5, at the Good Samaritan Society, in Pine River, MN.

Ruth was born September 26, 1925 in Hill City, MN. She married Gerald Stenberg August 9, 1947 and together had two children Gayle and Leigh.

Ruth was a longtime fixture in the Backus community. She and Gerald,...

May 5, 2021

Joan Shirley (Schmidt) Sarff passed away unexpectedly on May 5, 2021. She was born on December 23, 1935, in Pine River, to Henry and Elise Schmidt, the first of six children. The family moved to Pequot Lakes where she graduated from high school. Joan then attended secretarial school in the Twin Cities. During this time, she met Air Force...

May 5, 2021

Charles M. Allgood Jr. 56, went home to Jesus on May 5th, 2021 at his home on Eagle Lake in Brainerd.

Charles was born on Dec 9th, 1964 to Charles and Rebecca Allgood in South Boston, VA.

Charles graduated from Virginia Military Institute in 1987 with a degree in Civil Engineering. He received his master’s...

May 5, 2021

Tina Marie (Goff) Olson, age 48, of savage, passed away on Wednesday, May 5th, 2021 at her home. Tina was born February 27, 1973 to Mary Jo Goff and Michael Goff of Staples, Minnesota. Tina graduated from Staples High School in 1992. She then went on to study at the Mankato Cosmetology School where she completed her degree in...

May 5, 2021

Leroy Schmidt, 67 of Baxter formally of Morgan, passed away peacefully on May 5, 2021. Services will be 2pm on Saturday, May 15, 2021 at the Brenny Family Funeral Chapel in Baxter. A visitation will be one hour prior.

Leroy was born on November 29, 1953 to Raymond and MaryJane (Plain) in Sleepy Eye, MN. He attended...

May 4, 2021

Judith Ann Allison, 82, of Wadena, passed away on May 4, 2021 at her home. There will be no services at this time.

Judith was born July 22, 1938 in Elgin Illinois to Bernard and Hildur (Wicklund) Dougherty. She married Dale Thorsen on August 4, 1956. Together they had two children. After Dale’s passing, she married James...

May 4, 2021

Donald Edwin Hoger was born September 8, 1930 in Jamestown, ND to Edwin Oscar Hoger and Anna Marie Janssen Hoger. Don’s father Edwin had emigrated from Chemnitz, Germany and his family had homesteaded near New Salem, North Dakota. Don was the oldest of two sons born to the marriage of Edwin and Anna Hoger. Don attended Jamestown Franklin Grade...

May 3, 2021

Brian Reifsteck, 61, of Brainerd, passed away May 3, 2021 at the St. Cloud Hospital with his wife at his side. Service will be 3pm Saturday May 8, 2021 at the Brenny Family Funeral Chapel in Baxter. A visitation will be 2 hours prior.

Brian was born September 8, 1959 in Carrollton Illinois. He worked at Mac...

May 2, 2021

Robyn Semmler, age 52, of Longville, passed away on Sunday, May 2, 2021, at the Good Samaritan Society, Pine River. She was born on June 20, 1968, in Cambridge, MN, to Karen and James “Jim” Hanson.

Robyn lived in various places throughout her childhood, but spent many wonderful summers with her grandparents, Burton and Myrtle Livgard, on...

May 1, 2021

Vonnie Lee Tatro aka “Spud” 83  of Ironton went to be with the lord May 1st 2021. Vonnie was born May 9th 1937 In Immogene, Mn to Harry Tatro and Amy (Adam’s) Tatro. Vonnie was famously known as being the Mn Hitch Hiker as he traveled many places for many years. Vonnie loved the Colorado Mountains as he would...

May 1, 2021

Douglas Leroy Grossman, 90 years old passed away peacefully in his sleep May 1st at the Minnesota Veterans Home in Fergus Falls.

Funeral Services will be at 1:00 pm on Saturday May 08, 2021 at Trinity Lutheran in Staples, Minnesota. Visitation will be on Friday, May 07 from 5-7 pm at the Brenny Family Funeral Chapel- Staples,...

May 1, 2021

Cheri Belling, 75, of Motley, gained her angel wings on Saturday, May 01, 2021.  She loved and fully embraced being a daughter, wife, sister, mom, aunt, grandmother, great grandmother, and friend.  She was such a light in this world.  A generous and genuinely beautiful soul gone way too soon.  Her spirit and joy for life will be greatly missed....

Apr 30, 2021

Nicholas “Nick” John Musty Jr, age 80, of Brainerd, passed away on Friday, April 30, 2021 at Essentia St Joseph’s Medical Center. Funeral services will take place at 11 AM on Thursday, May 13, 2021 at St. Andrews Catholic Church located at 1108 Willow Street Brainerd, MN 56401. Visitation will start at 10 AM at St. Andrews. Burial will...

Apr 29, 2021

James A. Bourassa passed away at the age of 65 on the 29th of April 2021, due to complications of the covid virus.  Jim was born in Brainerd MN in 1955 to James and Francis Bourassa.  He graduated with honors from Brainerd High School and proudly joined the United States Marine Corps.  He was honorably discharged in 1979 and...