Obituaries

Jan 15, 2023

Jerry “Woody” Dwain Wood, age 83, of Emily, passed away peacefully at home on January 15, 2023 after a long illness.

He was born in Crosby, MN, on February 17, 1939, to Leslie and Berneice (Jenkins) Wood. Jerry graduated from Crosby Ironton High School. He was an Air Force Veteran, and held various positions working for Hanna Mining Company, Numeric...

Jan 15, 2023

Molly May Fiksdal, 74, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and dear friend, passed away peacefully on January 15, 2023.

Molly was born to George and Irene (Barton) Van Gilder on May 22, 1949, in Webster, SD. On October 4, 1969, she married the love of her life, Larry Fiksdal. They were best friends and shared a beautiful, loving relationship...

Jan 14, 2023

Dairien D. White, 86, of Motley, passed away peacefully on January 14, 2023, surrounded by family. Services will be held 11am on Wednesday, January 18th at the Brenny Family Funeral Chapel in Baxter. Visitation will be one hour prior to services.

Dairien was born in Bertha, Minnesota to Harold and Violet (Johnson) White on May 15, 1936. He graduated from...

Jan 14, 2023

Michael Floyd Smith passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on January 14, 2023 at the St. Cloud Hospital after a short battle with cancer. Mike was born on August 1, 1946, in Brainerd, the first of 10 children to Floyd and Violet “Vi” (Shamp) Smith. Mike was raised in the Pine River–Backus area, graduating from Pine River High...

Jan 13, 2023

Phyllis Ann Foster, 77, of Staples, passed away on January 13, 2023, at her home. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted with the Brenny Family Funeral Chapel, Staples.

Phyllis was born on August 6, 1945, to Anton and Darlene (Modrow) Knosalla in Staples, MN. Soon after high school graduation, Phyllis married and eventually moved to Spokane WA where they built a...

Jan 13, 2023

Charlotte Reed, 78, passed away peacefully at The Emeralds-Grand Rapids on January 13, 2023.

A Celebration of Life for Charlotte will be held at a later date.

Arrangements are entrusted to Brenny Family Funeral Chapel, Crosslake.

Jan 13, 2023

Ralph Jankovich, age 81, of Hackensack, and formerly Woodbury, passed away on Friday, January 13, 2023, at his home surrounded by family. He was born to Nels and Lillian Jankovich on June 9, 1941, in South St. Paul, MN.

Ralph was a Teamster for 30 years. He then drove school bus for 25 years in Stillwater and...

Jan 12, 2023

Gregg Nelson,59, of Brainerd, MN passed away on January 12, 2023 in Brainerd. A Celebration of Gregg’s Life will be held at 12pm on Sunday, August 27, 2023, at the Dennis Drummond Wine Co at 11919 Theisse Road, Brainerd, MN 56401.

Gregg was born on October 25, 1963, to Rodney and Katherine (Reynolds) Nelson in St. Paul, MN. He...

Jan 12, 2023

Marjorie Jane Eschenbacher, 95, of Baxter, MN passed away peacefully on January 12, 2023. Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday January 17, 2023 at 11:00am, at Zion Lutheran Church in Brainerd. There will be visitation for family and friends held on Monday January 16, 2023, from 5:00pm – 7:00pm at the Brenny Family Funeral Chapel in Baxter, and one...

Jan 11, 2023

Jeffrey Peter Sampson, 58, of Stacy MN, passed away at his home in the arms of his family on January 11, 2023. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday January 21, 2023, at 11:00am at the Motley Free Church in Motley, MN. There will be a visitation for friends and family held from 9:00am until the beginning of...

Jan 11, 2023

Brad J. Gallagher, 48, of Owatonna, formerly of Little Falls, MN passed away on January 11, 2023, in Owatonna. A Celebration of Brad’s life will be held at a later date.

Brad was born to John and Barb (Adair) Gallagher on March 25, 1974, in Little Falls, MN.

He enjoyed the outdoors and loved to go camping and...

Jan 10, 2023

 

Cindy Jo Pejka, 69; formerly of Lake Shore, MN; died on January 10, 2023, in Fort Wort, TX after a battle with Parkinson’s disease with Lewy Body Dementia.

 

Cindy was born May 14, 1953, in Alamosa, CO to Roberto and Leonila Medina. Cindy had an amazing personality and the ability to make anyone smile. She used her remarkable...

Jan 9, 2023

Allen Martin Braak, 88, of Apache Junction, AZ and formerly of Baxter, MN passed away in Arizona on January 9, 2023. A Funeral Service for Allen will be held on Saturday February 11, 2023, at 11:00am at Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Baxter, MN. There will be a visitation held on Friday February 10, 2023, from 5:00pm – 7:00pm...

Jan 9, 2023

Mark A. Fettig, 59, of Prior Lake, MN and Emily, MN passed away at his home in Emily on January 9, 2023.

Arrangements are pending at this time.

 

Arrangements are entrusted to Brenny Family Funeral Chapel, Crosslake.

Jan 9, 2023

Naree Priscilla (Farber) Weaver was born September 5, 1938 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Winfred and Alpha (Lyon) Farber.

Naree was a lifelong learner and a proud graduate of South High School (Minneapolis) in 1956. Naree married Merle Weaver on July 12, 1958 at Holy Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Minneapolis. Naree continued her education at St. Cloud State University...

Jan 8, 2023

Covert (Chuck) B. Brock, Jr., husband of Elvira (Vie) Arbuckle Brock, died on Sunday, January 8th, 2023 at Diamond Willow Assisted Living Detroit Lakes, MN.

Born May 27th 1936 in North Tonawanda, NY to Alberta Frances Maynard Brock and Covert Burd Brock, Sr.

Chuck graduated from St. Petersburg High School in 1954, where he played drums in the...

Jan 8, 2023

Carol Wheeler, 68, of Brainerd, passed away on January 8th, 2023, in the presence of her family. Gathering of friends and family will be held 1pm on Monday, January 16th at the Brenny Family Funeral Chapel in Baxter. A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

Carol was born on April 18, 1954, to John and Bernice...

Jan 8, 2023

Randy Harold Hanson, 70, of Staples, passed away on January 8, 2022, at the Lakewood Care Center in Staples. A gathering of family and friends will take place from 5-7pm on Thursday, January 19, 2023, at the Brenny Family Funeral Chapel in Staples. Interment will take place at 3pm on Friday, January 20, 2023, at Swan Valley Cemetery in Leader,...

Jan 7, 2023

Kenneth Lee Frabel was born September 24, 1947, in Cambridge, Ohio. He died peacefully on January 7, 2023, in his own home in Crosslake, MN, at the age of 75.

Ken was preceded in death by his mother, Reba Vcelka (nee Meighen); father, Robert “Jake” Kirkman; stepfather, Roy Frabel; and half-brother, James “Skeeter” Frabel.

Ken...

Jan 5, 2023

Charlene E. Gustafson-Gunter, 67, of Duluth, MN passed away peacefully on January 5, 2023 at Essentia Health-St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Brainerd. A memorial service is pending at this time.

Charlene was born to Robert and Delores (Wenneson) Gunter on June 26, 1955 in Los Angeles, California. She grew up on Lake Superior. Charlene was a very outgoing person...