Obituaries
Joana Bettis
Jan 11, 2026
Joana Marie Bettis, 90, of Motley, MN arrived in Heaven on Sunday, January 11, 2026 at Lakewood Health in Staples, MN. Services for Joana will be 11:00 AM, Thursday January 15,2026 at Motley Free Methodist Church in Motley, MN with Pastor Jim Johnson officiating. Family and friends are invited to gather for a visitation from 5:00-7:00PM, Wednesday, January14, 2026 at...
Roger Schwieters
Jan 10, 2026
Longtime Crosslake resident, Roger H. Schwieters, passed away January 10, 2026, at his winter home in Titusville, FL. He was 89 years old.
Roger was born on May 10, 1936, in St. Cloud, Minnesota, to Nick and Helen (Gerding) Schwieters. He graduated from St. John’s Preparatory School in 1954 and went on to earn a B.A. in English and Classical Languages...
Richard 'Dick' Phillips
Jan 10, 2026
Richard (Dick) Phillips, 85, of Crosslake, MN, passed away on January 10, 2026, in Lake Havasu City, AZ.
Services will be held on May 2, 2026 at 11:00 AM at Immaculate Heart Catholic Church in Crosslake where Dick was a long-time parishioner. Visitation will be held at the church one hour prior to Mass, with interment at the Pinewood Cemetery in...
Jacquelyn Wolff
Jan 8, 2026
Jacquelyn “Jackie” B. Wolff (née George) passed away peacefully on January 8, 2026, at the age of 92, surrounded by love.
Born on August 1, 1933, in Richfield, Minnesota, to William and Phoebe George, Jackie grew up in Richfield, where she met the love of her life, Robert Wolff. They married in 1952 and built a beautiful life together, raising four...
Sandra Luoma
Jan 8, 2026
Sandra Kay Luoma (Lambert), age 78, passed away peacefully on January 8, 2026, surrounded by her loving family. She was born on April 2, 1947, in Bagley, Minnesota. Throughout her life, Sandra made her home in Twig and Staples, Minnesota, where she built a life full of love, laughter, honesty, and deep connection. She passed on a meaningful day that...
Carl A. Boberg
Jan 6, 2026
Carl August Boberg
Age 95 of Jenkins, MN, passed away peacefully in his Jenkins, MN home on January 6th, 2026 due to complications of leukemia. Services to be held at The Journey church, 5459 Co Hwy 18, Nisswa, MN on Wednesday, January 28th. Visitation 11AM-noon, service from 12-1PM, then lunch is served before military burial. In lieu of flowers, please make...
Ruthe Tappe
Jan 6, 2026
Ruthe Arlene Tappe
b:11-03-1958 d:01-06-2026
Ruthe Tappe, 67, of Wadena MN passed peacefully of leukemia on January 6, 2026, in New York Mills.
A beloved mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, and friend Ruthe is survived by daughter Pamula, son Paul, grandson Kelvin and great-granddaughters Avacyn and Parker.
She had no strangers in her life, only friends she hadn't met yet. We will all be poorer...
Gary West
Jan 5, 2026
On January 5th, our brother Gary West was holding the hand of one of his best friend's (Lou's) hand when he took the hand of Jesus to transition from this life to the next. Gary brought Blessing, Encouragement, Hope, and an Awareness of the Most High, into most every conversation with people. Truly an Amazing man for those who knew...
Judy L Richardson
Jan 5, 2026
Judy L Richardson, 68, of Wadena, MN, passed away on January 5, 2026. Funeral services will take place at later date.
Jim Holub
Jan 3, 2026
James “Jim” Warren Holub, age 57, of Oak Grove, Minnesota, passed away at his home on January 3, 2026. Jim was born on February 12, 1968, in Wadena, Minnesota, and was a proud Motley Rocket.
Jim went on to serve his country in the United States Navy, where he was on active duty from 1988 to 1992, followed by multiple years...
Ann Caspers
Jan 2, 2026
Ann was born on November 27, 1954 in Braham, MN, to Franklin Carl Johnson and Ruby Violet (Munson) Johnson.Ann graduated from Cooper High School, part of the Robbinsdale School District, in New Hope, MN, in 1972. As a youngteenager, she worked for a caterer, followed by a job with K-Mart, and ultimately got a job at Northwestern Bell (later becomingU.S....
Cleone Hoplin
Jan 2, 2026
Cleone Karel (Wales) Hoplin passed away peacefully on January 2, 2026, at the age of 86. She left this world exactly as she wished—at home, her favorite place on earth, with her family by her side. Her final moments were filled with the same love, grace, and gentleness that defined her entire life.
Born on August 6, 1939, in Morris, MN,...
Sandy Koecher
Jan 1, 2026
Sandra Czeck Koecher
1/8/1944 – 1/1/2026
Sandy Koecher of Merrifield, MN, age 81, peacefully went to meet Jesus in heaven, surrounded by her family, on Thursday, January 1, 2026.
Sandy was born in St. Paul, MN on January 8, 1944. Sandy is survived by her husband, Richard of 38 years; her children, Tony (Darcie) Koecher, Patti (Chris) Cleveland, Vicki Koecher, Kari (Jim) Joslin,...
Norma Denniston
Jan 1, 2026
Norma Lee Denniston, age 92, of Brainerd, passed away on January 1, 2026, at Good Samaritan Woodland.
Memorial services will be held on Saturday, January 17, 2026, at 11:00 AM at Brenny Family Funeral Chapel in Baxter, MN, with a visitation one hour prior to the service. Interment will take place at Evergreen Memorial Gardens in Brainerd.
Norma was born on June...
MaryAnn Sackett
Jan 1, 2026
MaryAnn Sackett, 101, of Brainerd, passed away on January 1, 2026.
Services are pending.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Brenny Family Funeral Chapel, Baxter.
Randy Smith
Jan 1, 2026
Randy Smith, born November 1, 1960, in Staples, Minnesota, to Jack and Dixie Smith, passed away January 1, 2026 after a courageous battle with ALS, fighting with strength and determination until the very end.
Randy met the love of his life, Linda, in 1982. Together they moved to Texas, but Randy soon realized his heart belonged back home. Missing Minnesota and...
Linda Reuben
Dec 31, 2025
Linda Mary Reuben
Beloved wife, mama, nana, sister, aunt and friend was reunited with her Lord on December 31, 2025. Survived by her husband of 55 years Ben Reuben, daughter Sarah (Lee) Schiele, sons Quinten (Sarah) Reuben and Patrick Reuben, sister Noel (John) Pauly, 10 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren and her beloved golden-doodle Bubba.
Preceded in death by parents Gloria and Donald Pauly,...
Gerald 'Jerry' Puchalla
Dec 27, 2025
Jerry (Gerald) Puchalla, 82, of Brainerd, MN and formerly of Foley, MN passed away peacefully on December 27, 2025, surrounded by his family.
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday January 3, 2026 at 12:00pm at the Brenny Family Funeral Chapel in Baxter. There will be a visitation held starting at 11:00am.
Jerry was born in Foley, MN to Alex and...
Arleen Steele
Dec 26, 2025
Arleen Steele, age 87, of Crosslake, MN passed away on December 26, 2025 in Crosslake, MN.
Private family services will be held at a later date.
A full obituary will be posted soon.
Sandra Holst
Dec 26, 2025
Sandra Lee Holst age 81 of Crosslake Mn was sent peacefully to heaven on December 26 2025. She was born May 4, 1944, in Brainerd Mn where she resided many years working as a telephone operator. She moved to Coon Rapids Mn where she continued her education and became a Human Service Technician taking care of others which was her...
