Obituaries

Mar 30, 2014

James A. Eckert, age 84, of Backus, MN, formerly Bloomington, passed away Sunday, March 30, 2014. He was born in Marcell, MN, to James and Margaret Eckert on July 2, 1929. Jim served in the U.S. Army in Korea and was wounded in combat, receiving the Purple Heart. He worked as a mail carrier for the USPS for 30...

Mar 30, 2014

David Pejka, 84, of Lakeshore, MN, formerly of Hayward, WI, died March 30, 2014 at Harmony House in Brainerd, MN. Services will be held at 2:00 PM, Sunday, April 13, 2014 at Brenny Funeral Chapel in Baxter with family and friends invited to gather one hour prior and to stay following for a luncheon in the Brenny Funeral Chapel...

Mar 28, 2014

Sheila Stevens, 55, of Motley passed away unexpectedly Friday, March 28, 2014 at her home in Motley, MN. Funeral services for Sheila will be held on Tuesday, April 1, 2014 at 2:00 PM at the Motley United Methodist Church in Motley, MN with Pastor Greg Ciesluck officiating. Visitation will be held on Monday, March 31, 2014 from 5-8 PM...

Mar 27, 2014

Sharon Dumbeck, 76, of Brainerd, passed away peacefully Thursday, March 27, 2014 at St. Cloud Hospital. Family and friends are invited to gather starting at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, April 1, 2014 with a Celebration of her life at 3:30 PM at the Brenny Funeral Chapel in Baxter.

Sharon was born November 27, 1937, in Perham, MN,...

Mar 26, 2014

Melvin A. Smith, 85, of rural Motley died on Wednesday, March 26, 2014 at Lakewood Health System Care Center in Staples, MN. Graveside services for Melvin will be held at Motley Public Cemetery at a later date.

Melvin was born on May 24, 1928 in Staples, MN to Albert and Helen (Mudick) Smith. He entered the Merchant...

Mar 26, 2014

Mary Lucille Brauch, 81, of Staples, MN died on Wednesday, March 26, 2014 at St. Cloud Hospital in St. Cloud, MN. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, March 29, 2014 at 11:00 AM at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Staples, MN, with Father Joe Korf officiating. Visitation will be held on Friday, March 28, 2014 from...

Mar 25, 2014

Walter M. Ausland, 93, of Pillager, MN went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, March 25 at his home. Services for Walter will be held on Friday, March 28, 2014 at 3:00PM at Brenny Funeral Chapel in Baxter, MN with Pastor Hector Merced officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to services at the chapel. A reception...

Mar 25, 2014

Charles Burton “Burt” Spain, age 80, of Hackensack, passed away Tuesday, March 25, 2014, at his home. Burt was born to William “Bill” and Evelyn Ralya Spain on July 31, 1933, in Brainerd. He graduated from Hackensack High School in 1951. Burt was a gentle spirit, a friend to all and will be forever in our hearts. Burt is...

Mar 21, 2014

Harvey Andy Messner, 84, of Baxter, died Friday, March 21, 2014 at Essentia Health – St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Brainerd. Services will be held at 2:00 PM, Monday, March 24, 2014 at Brenny Funeral Chapel in Baxter with Dr. Daniel Messner officiating. Family and friends are welcome to gather one hour prior to services and stay following for...

Mar 21, 2014

Mildred Delores Brandt, 89, formerly of Jenkins, died Friday, March 21, 2014 at Whispering Pines Good Samaritan in Pine River. Interment will take place at Pine River Cemetery.

Mildred was born April 22, 1924, in Bemidji, the daughter of John H. and Mary A. (Welch) Nelson. Millie worked at Honeywell for a number of years until her...

Mar 21, 2014

Ronald Gerald Miskowiec, age 76, of Fifty Lakes, MN, a loving father, husband, brother, teach and coach passed away on March 21, 2014 in Orlando, FL. He was preceded in death by his brother, John. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth; children, Peter (Janice), David (Lynn), and Thomas (Jenny); granddaughter, Miranda; sister, Janet Anweiler; and brother, Roy Wagner....

Mar 20, 2014

Duane Ernest Smith, 76, of Nisswa, died Thursday, March 20, 2014 at Good Samaritan Society – Woodland in Brainerd. Services will be at 11:00 AM, Friday, March 28, 2014 at the Brenny Funeral Chapel in Baxter. Family and friends are welcome to gather one hour prior to services. Reception will follow at the Brenny Funeral Chapel Reception Room.

Mar 19, 2014

James (Jim, Jimmy) Benjamin Ware, 78, of Pine River, passed away March 19, 2014 at Sanford Medical Center, Bemidji. He was born March 10, 1936 in Pine River, MN to James and Marie Ware. Jim was a graduate of Pine River High School. On June 29, 1957 he married Norma Jean Johnson. Raised on the farm in...

Mar 18, 2014

Joannie Faye Holt, age 63, of Nisswa, MN passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, March 18, 2014 at Essentia Health/ St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Brainerd, MN. Per Joannie’s wishes there will be no services. Memorials can be mailed to 5170 Crossroads, Nisswa, MN 56468.

Joannie was a loving, caring, giving woman and will be sorely missed by...

Mar 18, 2014

Luanne “Lu” Tretter, 66, of Baxter died on Tuesday, March 18, 2014 at her home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held for Lu on Saturday, March 22, 2014 at 10:30AM at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Upsala, MN with visitation one hour prior to services. A Visitation for Lu will be held on Friday, March 21, 2014...

Mar 18, 2014

Christine Leone Magney, 102, of Brainerd, died Monday, March 17, 2014 at Good Samaritan Village – Woodland. Services will be held at 11:00 AM, Sunday, March 23, 2014 at 7th Day Adventist Church in Brainerd with Pastor Jeff Scoggins officiating. Family and friends are welcome to gather one hour prior to services. Interment will take place at Greenwood Cemetery...

Mar 13, 2014

Margaret Harmon, age 89, resident of Highland Senior Living, Little Falls, passed peacefully on Thursday March 13, 2014 at St. Gabriel’s Hospital.

Services are March 22. 2014 at Lincoln Evangelical Free Church, Cushing, MN at 10:00am with visitation one hour prior to services at the church.

Margaret was born to Harry and Mary Herrington in...

Mar 11, 2014

Vernon D. Welch, 76, of Nimrod MN died on Tuesday, March 11, 2014 at his home. Services will be held on Saturday, March 15, 2014 at 11:00 am at Abiding Savior Lutheran Church, 8211 Red Oak Dr. Mounds View, MN. Visitation will be one hour prior to service Vernon was born on May 3, 1937 in Meadowbrook Township, Cass...

Mar 9, 2014

Marie Virginia Smith (Knutson), 95, of Pine River, passed away on March 9, 2014. She was born February 19th, 1919 in Albert Lea, Minnesota to Jack and Elizabeth (Metraus) Knutson. She moved with her parents to Pine River, Minnesota at age 9. She attended school there, graduating from high school in 1937 and from Teachers Normal Training...

Mar 9, 2014

Richard "Dick" L. Young, 76, of Akeley, MN died on March 9, 2014 at St. Joseph Area Health Service in Park Rapids, MN. Services for Dick will be held on Friday, March 14, 2014 at 11:00AM at the Brenny Funeral Chapel in Baxter, MN with Pastor Darrell Morton officiating. A luncheon will follow services at the Brenny Funeral Chapel...