Obituaries

Dec 25, 2019

Sylvia Trafas, 85, of Little Falls MN passed away Christmas morning following a brief stay at St. Otto’s Care Center in Little Falls, MN. Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11:00AM Saturday, January 4, 2020 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Little Falls. Visitation will be one hour prior. A private family burial will be held at a...

Dec 24, 2019

Arthur “Art” Edmund Vadnais, age 91, of New Hope and formerly of Crosslake died December 24, 2019 at St. Therese Care Center in New Hope.

Art was born on December 23, 1928 in Chicago, Illinois to Edmund and Christine (Bain) Vadnais. He proudly served our country in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict. Art married Joyce Fischer...

Dec 24, 2019

Jennifer Mary Rivetts of Browerville died unexpectedly at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Brainerd MN Tuesday, December 24, 2019. Memorial services will be held 2:00PM Monday, December 30, 2019 at Brenny Family Funeral Chapel in Staples, MN. Visitation will be one hour prior.

Jennifer was born in Hibbing to Lawrence and Tracy Binkley on March 28, 1948. She...

Dec 23, 2019

Gilbert “Gil” Peck, 75, Pillager, died Monday, December 23 rd at Abbott-Northwestern Hospital, Minneapolis, MN. Gil’s graveside service will be held at 1 PM, Monday, December 30 th at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery, Little Falls, MN.

Gil is survived by: His Wife of 54 Years: Diane of Pillager; children: John (Robin) Peck of Pillager and Marcy (Jamie)...

Dec 23, 2019

Geraldine Francis Ann (Szmiot) Westlund passed away in the early morning of December 23, 2019 to be with her LORD. Celebration of Life at The Log Church in Crosslake, MN on July 18, 2020. Reverend Daniel S. Westlund to officiate

Gerri is survived by her husband, Robert Oscar Westlund Jr; children, Robin (David) Motley, Robert (Margaret) Westlund...

Dec 22, 2019

Alagra Faye Raymond, 72, of Brainerd, died Sunday, December 22, 2019. Memorial services will be held at St. Anne’s Shrine in Isle La Motte, Vermont at a later date.

Alagra was born September 8, 1947 to Robert and Theresa (Colomb) Bressette in St. Albans, VT. She married Neil Raymond and had two children. Alagra worked for the...

Dec 21, 2019

Pearl Irene Krager joined the angels Dec. 21, 2019.

She was born June 11, 1924 to Gertie (Brolin) and Andrew Rebne. At 15 she graduated High School and moved from Columbus, ND, to Mpls. MN. There she worked as a telephone operator for Northwestern Bell.  Eventually she met and married Eugene Krager. Pearl became inspiration for Eugene’s brainchild,...

Dec 18, 2019

Phillip James Condon, 62, of Virginia Beach, Virginia died on December 18th after a short battle with lung cancer at Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital, VIrginia Beach, VA.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, February 1st at 10:30 am at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, Rochester, MN, with visitation for one hour prior. Interment will be...

Dec 17, 2019

Patrick Edward Garry passed away December 17 th , 2019 at the age of 77. Pat was born on 2/19/1942 to Michael and Catherine Garry in the small farming community of Delavan, MN. As a youth he excelled at various sports, as well as raising the dickens with his friends and older brother. He met his future wife Catherine...

Dec 17, 2019

Sandra Gwendolyn Draves, age 78, of Brainerd, Minnesota died from complications of Alzheimer’s on Tuesday, December 17, 2019 at Good Samaritan Society – Bethany in Brainerd, Minnesota with her loving family by her side.  A celebration of Sandra’s life will be held at 12PM on December 27, 2019 at the Bethany Chapel in Brainerd.  Pastor Barb Christenson will officiate and...

Dec 17, 2019

Clarence “Shorty” Harrington, age 95, of Pine River, passed away on Tuesday, December 17, 2019, at Good Samaritan Society – Bethany, Brainerd. He was born to Marcus and Ora Harrington on November 18, 1924, in Pequot Lakes.

Clarence enjoyed the outdoors, farming, gardening, hunting and fishing. He loved playing baseball with his family and was...

Dec 16, 2019

Dolores Swanson, age 92, of Backus, passed away on Monday, December 16, 2019, at her home. She was born to Axel and Clara Nelson on July 29, 1927, in McCormick, MN. Dolores lived for the moments she spent with her children, grandchildren and pets.

Dolores is survived by her children: Kathy Blasing (Len), Ron Nolan...

Dec 13, 2019

Michael Patrick Conley, 71, of Staples, died Friday, December 13, 2019 at Lakewood Health Systems Hospital. Michael was born April 17, 1949 to John and Mary (Boland) Conley in Cambridge, Mass.

Michael Conley is survived by brothers John, Mark and James Conley, and sisters Maureen Conley, Pat Williams, Eileen Ballman, and Nancy Cooke.

He is...

Dec 11, 2019

Virginia Garnell Tiegen, age 87, died Wednesday, December 11, 2019 surrounded by her loving family at Northern Lakes Senior Living in Baxter.  Funeral services will be at 2PM on Sunday, December 15, 2019 at Swan Valley Lutheran Church in Leader.  Sandy Knight will officiate and burial will be in the parish cemetery at a later date.

Virginia...

Dec 11, 2019

On Wednesday, December 11, 2019, Connie Marie (Crose) Erickson unexpectedly joined her Angels at the age of 69.

Connie was born on August 8, 1950 in Minneapolis MN. to Ralph and Bettie (Colehour) Crose.

She graduated from MPLS Wasburn High school in 1968, moved from Bloomington, MN to Crosslake, MN in 1975. There she raised...

Dec 10, 2019

Eileen Rose Henderson, a long-time resident of Brainerd, peacefully passed away on December 10, 2019, surrounded by her large, loving family. Eileen was born in Carrington, ND on July 25, 1931 and grew up in the farming community that instilled the values of hard work, perseverance, and resiliency in her and all her family.  She was married to Oscar...

Dec 10, 2019

Harry “Wayne” Kelley, 83, of Fort Ripley, left his home at Bethany Good Samaritan Society to be with the Lord on December 10, 2019. A memorial service will be held 11:00AM, Saturday December 14, 2019 at Brenny Family Funeral Chapel in Baxter. Visitation will be one hour prior. Interment will be at Riverside Union Cemetery.

Wayne was...

Dec 9, 2019

Ernest Robert Jacobsen, 72, of Brainerd, died Monday, December 9, 2019. Ernie was born August 11, 1947 in Minneapolis to Ernest and Anette (Hansen) Jacobsen. He married his loving wife Lynette Berg in Minneapolis on June 10, 1967 and had three children.

Ernie is survived by his devoted wife of 52 years, Lynette; children Terri (Scott) Ebinger,...

Dec 9, 2019

Barbara Sue Beck was born Jan. 31, 1958 and passed on/attained the next level on Monday, Dec. 9, 2019, while at Good Samaritan Nursing Home in Pine River. She was a bright, shining, creative spirit, who walked this earth for 61 years. She was a teacher, organizer extraordinaire, full of humor and a ready smile, was much loved and...

Dec 8, 2019

Dwight Johnson, age 68, of Pine River, passed away Sunday, December 8, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota surrounded by his family. He was born May 25, 1951 to Melvin and Sally Johnson in Brainerd.

After graduation from Pine River High School in 1969, Dwight proudly served in the United States Marine Corp, stationed at Fort Pendleton...