Obituaries

Apr 3, 2023

Margaret (Jo) Johnson passed away at Brainerd medical Center April 3rd, 2023. She was 85. Jo was a graduate of Brainerd High School, Brainerd Junior College, and received her teaching degree from St. Cloud State. Jo began teaching for the Brainerd School District in 1959. She taught 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th grades at Lowell Elementary, and 6th...

Apr 3, 2023

Beverly Jane Hansen, age 85, of Staples, passed away on Monday, April 3, 2023 at Lakewood Health Care System. Beverly was born in Long Prairie on April 5, 1937 to Harry & Mildred (Pentz) Ricketts. Beverly worked in the Staples area at Ced’s Sunshine Market and Trident Foods.

Left to cherish her memory are her son, Dan...

Mar 31, 2023

Jerrold Lee Thompson, age 86, of Brainerd, passed away at his home, surrounded by his daughters. Jerry was born in Brainerd on October 19, 1936 to Frank & Elaine (Cook) Thompson. He graduated from Brainerd High School. Jerry married the love of his life, Renee Lyons, on April 19, 1959. He had several jobs including delivering fuel oil, working...

Mar 30, 2023

Henry F. Wulf went to be with the Lord on Thursday, March 30, 2023, at Good Samaritan Nursing Home in Brainerd, Minnesota.

Henry was born June 30th, 1936, in Rock Rapids, Iowa, and was raised on a farm in Rock County, Minnesota. Henry grew up attending First Baptist Church in Luverne, Minnesota and graduated from...

Mar 29, 2023

Arnold (Casey) Stengel passed into the arms of his Lord on Wednesday, March 29, 2023 at Methodist

Hospital in St. Louis Park, MN after a short bout with pneumonia.

Born on October 8, 1934 in Saum, MN, Arnold was the youngest of five siblings born to Einar & Johanna

(Krogseng) Stengel. His father...

Mar 26, 2023

Mar 26, 2023

Florence Kathryn Keller, age 94, of Baxter, passed away peacefully on March 26, 2023. She was born on July 1, 1928 in Mountain Lake, Minnesota, the daughter of Reverend Abram and Kathryn (Toews) Voth. She attended many schools throughout the Midwest, as her father was an Evangelist Minister. Florence graduated from Mountain Lake High School, then attended Crown College,...

Mar 24, 2023

Ruth Alice Van Keuren was born June 16, 1922, to Louis and Alice Probst in Alice, ND. She moved to MN with parents in 1938. She worked in the Kaiser Shipyards in Richmond, CA during World War II when Perry “Pat” Van Keuren was released from the Veterans Hospital after being wounded in the Admiralty Islands.

Ruth...

Mar 22, 2023

James Lincoln Fitch, age 89, of Merrifield passed away at his home on Wednesday, March 22, 2023. Jim was born in Springdale, Pennsylvania on February 12, 1934, to George L. & Sarah (Simpson) Fitch. He served his country in the US Marine Corps. Jim worked for 23 years at Continental Airlines. He married the love of his life, Maryann...

Mar 22, 2023

Kathleen Ann Burbach, age 76, of White Bear Lake, passed away on Wednesday, March 22, 2023, in Baxter, MN. Kathy was born in St Paul on November 2, 1946, to Landon Garland, Jr; Evelyn Helen (Vadnais) Hamner. She married Conrad William Burbach and they had two sons.

Kathy is survived by her son, Mike (Jess) Burbach; aunt,...

Mar 21, 2023

Scott L. Johnson a 64-year-old resident of Leader (LA) passed away on Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at Essentia St Joseph’s Hospital in Brainerd. He was born in Staples, Minnesota on January 22, 1959 to Lillian (Bendson) and Gordon Johnson.

A celebration of life will be held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday,...

Mar 20, 2023

Elaine Joyce Norwood, age 92, of Pequot Lakes, passed away peacefully at her lake home, on Monday, March 20, 2023. Elaine was born in Brainerd to Charles & Amelia Johnston. She married Wesley Norwood, and together they had 2 sons, Allen Wesley and Gregory Lee.

Elaine was a great cook and baker. She loved her sweets, and...

Mar 20, 2023

Heidi Michelle Schmidt of Motley, passed peacefully at home, holding her husband Mike’s hands, after her 14 month journey with cancer, March 20, 2023.

Heidi was born on October 20th, 1968. She graduated from Chisholm High School and moved to Brainerd, in 1986. She graduated with a 2-year degree from Central Lake College in Accounting...

Mar 18, 2023

Mar 17, 2023

Gary Wayne Williams, age 78, of Brainerd, passed away on Friday, March 17, 2023 at Carefree Living. Gary was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa to Wayne and Viola Williams.

Gary is survived by his children, Amy Wiser, Troy (Michelle) Cronbaugh, Theresa Williams; siblings: Larry, Mark (Kathy), Jean, and Linda; grandchildren: Jessica (Adam), Ricky (Kaley), Amanda (Joe), Alex...

Mar 12, 2023

Our Beloved Mother gained her wings today.

Carolyn Ruby (Schwenn) Nystrom (aka: Ruby Red Lips) 87, of Staples, MN passed away peacefully at her home on March 12, 2023 in the arms of her youngest son, Gary.

Carolyn Ruby (Schwenn) Nystrom was born August 23, 1935 to Ruben Carl and Hatti...

Mar 5, 2023

Annella Mary Ringwelski, age 92, of Bowlus, passed away on Sunday, March 5, 2023, at Serenity Village in Avon. Annella was born on July 16, 1930, in Elmdale, to Joseph and Edith (Schneider) Kopka.

Annella graduated from Upsala high school in 1949. She then attended St. Mary’s Nursing college in Rochester where she received her LPN. She...

Mar 2, 2023

Samuel Anthony Sweet, age 82, of Brainerd, passed away at his home on March 2, 2023. Sam was born in Barrows on November 7, 1940, to Harold & Josephine (Clay) Sweet.

Sam is survived by his children, Kevin (Denise), David, Brian and Janae (Jerry) Brill; sisters, Betty Tyler and Beverly Miller; 6 grandchildren.

He is...

Feb 26, 2023

Aaron L. Baumgartner a 48-year-old resident of Motley passed away unexpectedly at the Hoag Memorial Hospital in New Port Beach, California. He was born to Shirley (Hertel) and Lawrence Baumgartner in Brainerd, Minnesota on October 2, 1974. He graduated from Staples-Motley High School in 1993. While he was in high school he attended the Auto Body program at Central...

Feb 26, 2023

Jerilyn Susan Arendt, age 76, of Cushing, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Sunday, February 26, 2023. Jeri was born in Winona on November 5, 1946, to Wilber and Elizabeth “Valna” (Chase) Batzel. She married the love of her life, Lee Arendt on August 17, 1968. Together they began their family and raised four children....