Obituaries
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...
Gary Allen Dorf
Dec 24, 2025
Gary Dorf passed away peacefully with his family by his side on December 24, 2025, at Essentia St. Joseph’s Hospital in Brainerd, Minnesota. He was born on August 26, 1950, to parents Beatrice (McEachern) and Dennis Dorf.
Gary graduated from North High School with the Class of 1968. Following high school, he began his working career with Schweigert’s Meat Company. He...
June Eloise Carlson
Dec 24, 2025
June E. Carlson age 98 died peacefully at home in Nisswa, MN on December 24, 2025. She was preceded in death by her first husband Harlan Armstrong and her 2nd husband Roger Carlson. Survivors include daughters Judy Patch and Ruth Lang (Gary), son Steve Armstrong (wife Jan), and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great- grandchildren; sister Jan Schrader, sister-in-law Mary Jane...
Kelly Hulke
Dec 23, 2025
Kelly Rose Hulke was born in Minneapolis on March 4, 1959, to Russell and Marian Ottoson, and was raised as a Navy daughter in Hawaii, Florida, Illinois, settling in Minnesota when her father retired in 1975. She graduated from Pine River High School in 1977, later attending the Minneapolis Institute of Art until she married Gerald Hulke. She would acquire...
Shirley 'Bunny' Window
Dec 23, 2025
Shirley “Bunny” Window
April 17, 1938 – December 23, 2025
Shirley “Bunny” Ann Window (Anderson) passed away peacefully at her home on December 23, 2025, at the age of 87.
Bunny was born on Easter Sunday, April 17, 1938, in Pequot Lakes, Minnesota, the second youngest of five daughters born to Gil and Esther (Halberg) Anderson. From a young age, Bunny learned the...
Kevin L Christensen
Dec 22, 2025
Kevin L Christensen of Brainerd, Minnesota, age 60, died at home on Monday, December 22nd, 2025.
Kevin was known to be a little crabby or grouchy to his friends and bartenders as he made his rounds around town. However, to his nieces and nephews, he is remembered as a gentle quiet giant with a contagious laugh that could fill up an...
Claudia S. Parker
Dec 21, 2025
Claudia Sue Parker (Rudolph) was welcomed home to Jesus on December 21st. Claudia was born on July 27th 1951 to Peter and Dorothy Rudolph. Claudia lived and loved the majority of her life in the Brainerd Lakes Area where she raised her 3 children; Tricia, Tracy, and Jon (Mary). She was a proud grandmother to Josh, Abby, Gallaya, Albert, Arlo,...
Howard Peterson
Dec 19, 2025
Howard Duane Peterson passed away peacefully on Friday, December 19, 2025, at Good Samaritan Society in Pine River, Minnesota, he was 94. Howard was born on June 18, 1931, to Nellie (née Hamlet) and Marvin Peterson in Brainerd, Minnesota.
The youngest of four children, Howard grew up in the rural Pine River community of Swanburg. In his childhood years he enjoyed...
Christina Niedfeldt
Dec 18, 2025
Christina Mae (Weitzel) Niedfeldt of Pequot Lakes, MN passed away on December 18, 2025.
She was born on May 10, 1978 to Larry and Nancy Weitzel in Staples, MN.
She is survived by her husband Scott Niedfeldt and children Alex Magnuson, Riley Magnuson and William Niedfeldt along with her brother David (Julie) Weitzel.
Chris was one of those people who put everyone else...
Laura Paycer
Dec 18, 2025
Laura Paycer, of Nisswa, passed away on December 18, 2025, at the age of 70. She was born on March 2, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois to Walter and Alice Pelz. Laura was the youngest of three girls.
Laura began her career in Technology in Chicago at the age of 20, then moved to Minnesota where she met and married Allan Paycer;...
Andrew J Dembouski
Dec 18, 2025
Andrew J. Dembouski of Hackensack, Minnesota born September 18, 1935, passed away peacefully on December 18, 2025 at 90 years old.
He is survived by his sons Brian (Carrie) Mark (Deanna) and David. Four grandchildren, and two great grandchildren.
He was a proud veteran of the US Army serving from 1954 - 1957.
Services are pending and plan to be held in the...
Myron Rasmussen
Dec 18, 2025
Myron Rasmussen, 79, of Motley, MN passed away on December 18, 2025 in Brainerd, MN.
A full obituary will be posted soon.
Gary Litchy
Dec 16, 2025
Gary Arnold Litchy, 90, passed away December 16, 2025, in Brainerd, MN.
He was born on August 21, 1935, in Minneapolis, MN to the late Clarence and Florence Litchy.
Gary is survived by and will be deeply missed by his wife, Joyce Hunt Litchy; son, Greg (Melanie) Litchy: daughter, Ann Litchy Martinez; granddaughter, Catherine Litchy; grandson, Matthew Litchy Martinez; sister, Sandra (Elroy)...
John Koch
Dec 16, 2025
Longtime Pequot Lakes resident, John Meinrad Koch, died December 16, 2025, at his home in Crosslake, MN surrounded by his loving family.
John was born July 13, 1931, in Wadena, MN to Paul and Florence (Kripps) Koch. He graduated from Wadena High School in 1949 and joined the US Coast Guard later that year. After serving on the USCGC Mackinaw, the...
Darrell Max
Dec 15, 2025
Darrell Max, born on November 25, 1948, passed away peacefully on December 15th, 2025. Darrel lived a life defined by quiet creativity, curiosity, and a deep appreciation for the moments worth capturing.
Darrell worked as a drafter, contracting his skills to create detailed mechanical engineering drawings. His work reflected his precision, patience, and thoughtful approach—qualities that extended far beyond his professional...
Gary Mueller
Dec 15, 2025
Gary Mueller, 78, of Staples, MN, passed away on December 15, 2025 in Staples. A Memorial Service will be planned for a later date.
A full obituary will be posted soon.
