Obituaries
Harrell Defries
Jul 2, 2025
Harrell Defries was born January 13,1936, in Minneapolis, MN, the son of Otto and Gladyce Defries. He grew up and graduated high school in Redwood Falls, MN. He served in the Army during the Korean conflict and studied math and engineering at the University of Minnesota. After getting married in 1958, Harrell and Marge Defries settled in Bloomington, MN, to...
Floyd Jensen
Jun 29, 2025
Floyd Michael Jensen, 65, passed away on Sunday June 29th, 2025 surrounded by his family and in the comfort of his home after a courageous and heroic battle with a GIST tumor. Floyd was born on January 30th, 1960 to James Jr. and Carol (Trantanella) Jensen in St. Paul, Minnesota. He graduated from Murray High School in 1978 and later...
Charlene White
Jun 27, 2025
Charlene Leona White, Age 75 of Pine River, MN, passed away at her home June 27, 2025.
Char’s celebration of life will be on July 8, 2025, at Brenny Funeral Chapel in Pine River with visitation at 11AM, service at 12PM, and a burial service following at Norwood Cemetery.
Char was born on Dec 2, 1949, to Clarence Jr and Ardelle Hall...
Thomas Hermel
Jun 22, 2025
Thomas Clifford Hermel, age 78, passed unexpectedly on Sunday, June 22nd, from extreme heat exhaustion at St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Brainerd. He died a "quick, happy death not listening to his wife." He left behind an impeccable collection of hunting guns, clothing and supplies, as well as industrial sized boxes of instant oatmeal, and more Tom Brady, Donald Trump...
Darline Molde
Jun 21, 2025
Darline Joy Molde, an 85-year-old resident of Lake Alexander, passed away at her lake home on June 21, 2025.
Funeral services will be held at Bethany Lutheran Church in Cushing on June 30, 2025. Visitation begins at 10am with the service starting at 11am.
Darline was born in Montevideo on November 10, 1939, to Arvid and Arline Miller. Darline grew up in...
Willis "Will" Hoyt
Jun 19, 2025
Willis Arthur Hoyt (Will) passed away on June 19, 2025, at the age of 68 after a courageous battle with cancer. He was born in Minneapolis on May 17, 1957.
Will graduated from Grand Rapids High School in 1975. He was preceded in death by Binky, Hughie, Merps, Ruby, and Lars. Surviving classmates are probably still subject to statues of limitations...
Dan Blaisdell
Jun 15, 2025
Daniel Roland Blaisdell, was born in Waseca, MN, on March 18, 1944, to Erna and Merle Blaisdell. Dan grew up with two siblings, brother, Gary Blaisdell, and sister, Twila Sickman.
Dan went to Janesville school and later married Karen E. Spindler on April 22, 1967. They lived in Owatonna, MN, and Dan worked at OTC for 6 years. In 1973, they...
Jamie Wolske
Jun 14, 2025
Jamie Wolske lost her battle with cancer on June 14, 2025. Jamie was being treated at St. Joseph’s Medical Center at her time of death.
Jamie was born in Galesburg, Illinois, to Gene and Georgene Wolske on December 24, 1961. She was the sixth of eight children.
When Jamie was 15, the family moved from Henry, IL to Backus, MN. Jamie graduated...
Shirley Zigmund
Jun 14, 2025
Shirley Arlene (Griffith) Zigmund, age 90, passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 14, 2025, at Whitefish at the Lakes in Crosslake. She was born on September 26, 1934, to Henry Leon and Ina Griffith in Revilla, SD. At a young age they moved to Backus, MN, where she attended school and graduated.
She met and married, Joseph Zigmund, on March 15,...
Gary Jensen
Jun 14, 2025
Gary Wayne Jensen June 13, 1949 – June 14, 2025 Gary Wayne Jensen, age 76, of Nisswa, passed away peacefully around his loved ones on June 14, 2025. He was born on June 13, 1949, in Brainerd, Minnesota, to Harold and Ardelle Jensen.
Gary proudly served his country in the United States Navy before building a life in hard work, family,...
Thomas Martin
Jun 12, 2025
Thomas Lee Martin, age 41, passed away into the arms of the lord unexpectedly 6/12/25. He was born 4/12/84 in Brainerd, MN and went to school in Pine River, MN.
Son of Susan Maas and Tim Martin, preceded in death by his father. Survived to honor his memory are his mother Sue, siblings Kim , Cory, Tim, and Matt, as well...
Betty Hohensee
Jun 12, 2025
Betty Ann Hohensee (Paulson) , age 93 of Wayzata, formerly of Brainerd, passed away peacefully On Thursday, June 12, 2025. Betty was born on June 16, 1931, at home on the Barber Farm in rural Brainerd, the daughter of John and Thelma (Johnson) Paulson. She graduated from Washington High School in 1949 as the co-valedictorian and then worked as a...
Clarice Tulenchik
Jun 11, 2025
Clarice Tulenchik, age 95, of Pine River, MN, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. She was born December 31, 1929, to Henry and Tilla Rudlang.
She married Richard Tulenchik on September 7, 1948, in Brainerd. They were married for 57 amazing years.
Clarice loved being with her Red Hat Ladies. She formed life-long relationships with many, especially her childhood friend,...
Levi Hurd
Jun 10, 2025
Levi Tyrell Hurd, born on November 26, 2002, to Robert Bueno Sr. and Frances Hurd, passed away on June 10, 2025.
Levi graduated from Crosslake Charter School in 2022. He avoided conflict and enjoyed birdwatching, bouncing on the trampoline, and playing video games with his brother. Levi loved Star Wars, Spiderman, and fighter jets.
Levi is survived by his mom, Frances; brother,...
Lorrie Rode
Jun 9, 2025
Lorrie Rode, 67, of Pequot Lakes, formerly of Brooklyn Park, passed away peacefully at home on Monday, June 9, 2025, after a courageous battle with cancer.
Lorrie Jean (Peterson) Rode was born November 27, 1957, in Waseca, MN to Lloyd and Arlene (Schmidt) Peterson. Lorrie grew up in Waseca along with her sister, Linda. She graduated from Waseca High School in...
June Velsvaag
Jun 9, 2025
June (Jones) Velsvaag, age 89, of Pine River, MN went to be with Jesus, her Lord and Savior, June 9, 2025. June was born June 28, 1935, to Charles and Dorothea Jones in Ft. Pierre, SD. In 1940 her family moved to the Pine River, MN area. She was a 1953 graduate of Pine River High School and married John...
Laura Wittenberg
Jun 8, 2025
Laura Mathilda Wittenberg, age 103, of Buffalo, MN, passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 8, 2025, at The Glenn Buffalo.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, June 13, at Laestadian Lutheran Church, 1501 South 8th Street, Brainerd, with visitation beginning one hour prior to the service. Interment will follow at Evergreen Memorial Gardens in Brainerd.
Laura turned 100...
Evelyn Lutzke
Jun 7, 2025
Evelyn Kathryn Lutzke, born January 2, 1938, peacefully passed away on June 7, 2025. She was preceded in death by her husband Adolph Lutzke, her daughter Patricia Lutzke, her parents Marie and John Rushmeyer, and her sisters Maryann (John)kuhn and Donna Rushmeyer. Evelyn is lovingly survived by her children Janice Falor(William Warner), Thomas (Barb) Lutzke,Bonnie (Pat) Wilson, and John Lutzke;...
Jeanne Brown
Jun 7, 2025
Jeanne Lois (Smith) Brown, age 82, of Staples, MN, passed away peacefully on June 7, 2025, at the Lakewood Health System Care Center. She was surrounded by her loving family in her final moments.
Jeanne was born on February 4, 1943, to Edward Alan Smith and Lois Eleanor Smith in Philbrook, MN. She was one of twelve children Eleanor, Jim (Eileen),...
Wayne Engstrom
Jun 6, 2025
Wayne Boyd Engstrom, 87, of Brainerd, Passed away on June 6, 2025. In honor of his wishes, there will not be any services.
Wayne was born on November 7, 1937, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to John and Alice (Strand) Engstrom.
Wayne was a well-known humanitarian and a dedicated volunteer in the Brainerd Lakes area. He devoted countless hours to Meals on Wheels, local...
