Obituaries
Wendy Reed
Feb 28, 2026
Wendy Reed, 67, of Remer, MN passed away on February 28, 2026 in Remer. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday March 7, 2026 at 1:00pm at the Longville Community Church in Longville. A Visitation will be held one hour prior to the start of the service.
A full obituary will be posted soon.
Pamela Polchow
Feb 28, 2026
Pamela Joy Polchow, age 76, of Crosslake, passed peacefully into God’s hands on Saturday, February 28, 2026, at Essentia Health following health complications.
Pam was born on September 18, 1949. In July 2025, she made the heartfelt decision to move to the Crosslake area to be closer to her family. Though her time there was brief, she embraced it fully. Pam...
Curtis Carl Zimmerman
Feb 28, 2026
Curtis Zimmerman passed away Saturday February 28, 2026. He was 86 years old.
Curt was born on March 24, 1939, in Bottineau, North Dakota to Carl and Doris (Brandt) Zimmerman. He was the youngest of two sons. They were raised on a small dairy farm in Willow City. In their high school years the brothers were talented basketball players. They were...
Dale H. Tracy
Feb 27, 2026
Dale Tracy, 90, of Pequot Lakes, MN, passed away on February 27, 2026 in Pequot Lakes. Arrangements for a memorial service are pending at this time.
A full obituary will be posted soon.
Larry Daniel Gifford
Feb 25, 2026
Larry Daniel Gifford
September 24, 1940 – February 25, 2026
Larry Daniel Gifford, age 85, of Pierz, MN, passed away peacefully on February 25, 2026, at Harmony House in Pierz. He was born on September 24, 1940, in Lynch, Nebraska (Boyd County), to Charles L. Gifford and Mildred (Hansen) Gifford. He was raised with a deep sense of faith, resilience, hard work,...
Sandra Kay Rasmussen
Feb 22, 2026
Sandra Kay Rasmussen, 72, of Staples, passed away on February 22, 2026. Private family services will be held.
David Wayt
Feb 22, 2026
David Barnt Wayt, 77, of Baxter, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on February 22, 2026, at Essentia Health St. Joseph’s Medical Center. He was born on May 26, 1948, in Roundup, Montana, to Gordon and Hilma Wayt.
David was raised in Brainerd and graduated from Brainerd High School in 1966. Shortly after graduation, he answered the call to serve his country by...
Steven Malecka
Feb 21, 2026
Steven Douglas Malecka, born on February 24, 1953, in Minneapolis, MN, passed away on February 21, 2026.
Steven graduated from Bloomington-Lincoln Sr. High School in 1971 and went on to attend school as a plumbing apprentice from 1978-1982. Steven would later earn the title of Master Plumber in 2004, of which he was very proud. He later retired to Pine River,...
Nancy Macnamara
Feb 18, 2026
Nancy Marie Macnamara passed from this life on Ash Wednesday, February 18th, 2026, at the age of 96 ½. She was born to Irving and Ruth Van Stone on August 30th, 1929, in Washburn Wisconsin. She was joined by sister, Mary Kay, two years later.
The family owned and operated their farm as Town’s End Dairy. Nancy attended Washburn High School...
Daniel Trout
Feb 15, 2026
Daniel Thomas “Danny” Trout went to heaven on his birthday, February 15, 2026.
A Memorial Service will be held on Thursday February 19, 2026 at 10:00am at the Heritage Church in Baxter.
Daniel was born on February 15, 1960, in Staples, Minnesota, to Belma (Ward) and Neil Trout. From an early age, he was known for his warm personality and strong sense...
Janice Pietig
Feb 14, 2026
Janice Marie Pietig, age 88, of Lakeshore, Minnesota, entered into heaven peacefully on Saturday, February 14, 2026, at her home, surrounded by her loving family.
A gathering of family and friends will be held at Lutheran Church of the Cross, 5064 County Road 13, Nisswa, MN 56468, on Friday, May 1st, 2026, beginning at 10:00a.m., followed by a memorial service at...
Joyce Lynn Walker
Feb 14, 2026
Joyce Lynn Walker, (AKA, Jozzy, The Jozz, Jozz, Joceyln, J-Lo) age 73 of South St. Paul, MN, passed away 2/14/2026 on her time and her terms with her family and fur babies, Winkie and Paddy, who never left her side during her battle with colon cancer.
Joyce was raised in South St. Paul and spent her teen years tormenting her little...
William Wicht
Feb 14, 2026
William Wallace Wicht, age 77, passed away peacefully on Saturday afternoon, February 14, 2026, at his home in West Union surrounded by family. Bill was born at the Bertha Hospital on February 6, 1949 to John and Evelyn (Martin) Wicht, the youngest of seven children. He grew up on the family farm in Aldrich and was a 1967 graduate of...
Joseph Hampl III
Feb 14, 2026
Mr. Joseph John Hampl, Jr., age 82, passed away peacefully on February 14, 2026, in Crosslake, Minnesota. Born on December 7, 1943, in Owatonna, Minnesota, Joe lived a life marked by service, leadership, and unwavering devotion to his family and community.
Joe graduated from Owatonna High School and went on to attend the University of Minnesota, where he participated in the...
Robert Shea
Feb 14, 2026
Robert “Bob” Shea passed away peacefully after a short illness on February 14, 2026.
Bob was born in Wadena, Minnesota, to his parents, Beverly and Mathew Shea on May 15, 1961. He graduated from Staples High School with the Class of 1979. Bob was a man with an old soul, known for his artistic nature and his unique ability to turn...
Lois Erickson
Feb 12, 2026
Lois Elaine (Phillips) Erickson, 97, of Brainerd, Minnesota, passed away on February 12, 2026, in Baxter, Minnesota. A Celebration of Life will take place from 9:00 am to 1pm on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at the Brenny Family Funeral Chapel, Baxter, MN. Interment will be at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Little Falls, MN.
Lois was born on August 11,...
Sandra Trana
Feb 11, 2026
Sandra “Sandy” Ann Trana age 80, passed away peacefully on February 11th, 2026, at Lakewood Health System Care Center in Staples, surrounded by her family.
She was born on March 6, 1945, to Orin and Emma Christensen in Minneapolis, Mn.
Sandy was a devoted mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend whose life was defined by quiet strength and unwavering love for...
Lucille E. Knopik
Feb 9, 2026
Lucille Elizabeth Knopik, age 94, of Pillager, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on February 9, 2026, in Pierz, Minnesota.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday February 23, 2026 at 11:00am at St. Francis Catholic Church in Brainerd, Minnesota. A visitation will take place one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will take place in the...
Darrell O. Kempfert
Feb 8, 2026
Darrell Kempfert was promoted into the loving arms of his Lord and Savior Yeshua haMoshiach / Jesus Christ on February 8, 2026, at home with his wife Karla by his side following a valiant battle with leukemia and cardiac disease.
Darrell Ortwin Kempfert was born on July 10, 1945, to Merrill and Caroline (Seemann) Kempfert in a quaint cottage on Shady...
Sandra Smith
Feb 8, 2026
Sandra Louise Smith, age 79, of Staples, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on February 8, 2026.
Sandy was an amazing woman whose life was defined by her caring heart and the many ways she showed up for the people around her. She had a special gift for sewing and poured love into every stitch—whether quilting with dear friends, creating for her family,...
