OBITUARIES

Oct 11, 2022

Gene "Bud" Kerger was born November 13, 1931, to Evald and Lydia Kerger in Slayton, MN. He passed away peacefully at his home, surrounded by family, on October 11, 2022.

Bud graduated from Slayton High School, joined the Air Force in 1951 and was stationed in Tripoli. He traveled extensively throughout Europe as an airplane mechanic. Upon...

Oct 10, 2022

Marie Amy Taylor (Witt), age 59, of Pine River, passed away peacefully on October 10, 2022, with her loving husband of 35 years, Dean, by her side. She will be greatly missed by her children: Cheyanne (Cody), Austin, Lizzy (Eric); grandchildren, Ember and Carter; siblings: Darlene (Dan) Norman, Julie (Jay) Cline, Donna Crimmins, Josie (Steve) Mick, Penny (Troy) Sawyer,...

Oct 4, 2022

Bridget Louise (Houghtaling) Maine, 62, of Pequot Lakes, Minnesota, passed away, peacefully, on October 4, 2022, surrounded by her family after a long, courageous battle with cancer.

Bridget was born in Saginaw, Michigan, on August 19, 1960. She spent her early years in Saginaw before moving to Alaska, where she met her husband, Westal Maine. They were...

Sep 24, 2022

Vickie Dee McCarty of Backus, MN, passed away September 24, 2022, in Brainerd, MN. She was born August 28, 1955, to Wyman “Jack” and Donna (Hasbrouck) Dwire in Park Rapids, MN. Vickie worked as a receptionist at the clinic in Pequot Lakes for many years until her COPD forced her to retire. She enjoyed hunting, fishing, traveling and gardening...

Sep 23, 2022

SERVICES FOR DONALD BROWN HAVE BEEN RESCHEDULED FOR 2 PM ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14, AT KLINE FUNERAL HOME, PINE RIVER. VISITATION WILL BE ONE HOUR PRIOR TO THE SERVICE WITH A LUNCHEON FOLLOWING THE SERVICE AT THE BACKUS AMERICAN LEGION.

Donald “Don” Brown, age 68, passed away peacefully at home in the arms of his loving wife on...

Sep 19, 2022

Wendy Lee Anderson of Menasha, WI, passed away unexpectedly on September 19, 2022, at ThedaCare Regional Hospital, Neenah, WI. She was born on December 12, 1967 in Minneapolis, MN, to Jim and Lois Anderson.

Wendy graduated from Alliance Christian Academy, Elk River, MN and attended St. Cloud Beauty College. She was dearly loved by friends and family....

Sep 18, 2022

Georgia (Stangel) Theis, age 69, passed away on September 18, 2022, at her home in rural Pine River. She was born in Crosby, MN, on January 27, 1953, to Richard and D. Marie Stangel.

Georgia is survived by husband, Richard Theis; sisters: Jeanette Gale of Las Vegas, NV, Pat (Jim) Earl of Crosby, Linda (Jim) Gutenkauf of...

Sep 17, 2022

Marlys Lee went home to be with Jesus on September 17, 2022, one month short of her 98th birthday, in her daughter’s home in Merrifield, MN. She was born in Murdo, SD, to Frank and Maude Coleman, the first of five children. The family moved to the farm near Ruthven, IA, where Marlys attended country school and later Ruthven...

Sep 16, 2022

Joyce Brammann, loving wife, mother and grandmother, lost her 3-year battle with cancer on Friday, September 16, 2022, at her home. She was born in Park Rapids on August 22, 1938, to Frank and Amelia Zerr.

Joyce is survived by her husband of 64 years, David; children: Scott Brammann, Peggy Staie (Byron), Victor Brammann (Jodi); twin brother,...

Sep 14, 2022

Marcus “Mark” L. Zaczkowski of Pine River, MN, passed away on September 14, 2022, at Essentia St. Joseph’s Medical Center, Brainerd, MN.  He was born to Marcellus and Lorretta Zaczkowski of Belgrade, MN, on April 25, 1938. Mark was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Iverne and Marilyn; brother, Leon; and brother-in-law, Frank Michalowski. He is survived by...

Sep 13, 2022

Greg Buchite passed away peacefully at his home after a hard battle with pancreatic cancer. He was born in Milwaukee, WI, On June 10, 1956, to Morris and Janice Buchite. He spent his early years growing up in the Twin Cities, then moved in his early teens to the family farm in Fifty Lakes.

Greg married Toni...

Sep 12, 2022

Joanne K. Moren, age 85, of Brainerd, and formerly Hackensack, passed away September 12, 2022, at Harmony House in Motley. She was born on July 4, 1937 to Carroll A. and Dorothy (Edlund) Johnstone.

Joanne is survived by her husband of 65 years, Lee, of Hackensack/Brainerd MN; two children, Tod of Milaca, MN and Kathleen (Joel) Jader of...

Sep 11, 2022

Regina L. Derfler, 95, of Pequot Lakes, passed away on Sunday, September 11, 2022, at Riverside Assisted Living in Pine River. Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 AM on Thursday, September 29, at St. Alice Catholic Church, Pequot Lakes, with visitation one hour prior. Private interment.

Sep 9, 2022

Christian James Harrison, a devoted son, amazing brother, grandson, and nephew left us all too soon, at the age of 29, on September 9, 2022. He is now fishing in heaven with his grandfathers, Allen and Charlie.

Please join us for the memorial services on September 24, 2022, at First Lutheran Church in Pine River, MN, to...

Sep 5, 2022

Steven ‘Steve’ W. Pauly, age 78, of Hackensack, MN, entered eternal life on Monday, September 5, 2022. A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, September 30, at 12 PM, with a visitation from 11 AM – 12 PM, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 230 MN-371, Hackensack. Father Timothy Lange will preside. Reception to follow at Birchwood Char...

Sep 3, 2022

David Lee Johnson passed away on September 3, 2022, at the age of 65. He was born to Medora and Ray Johnson on April 18, 1957, in Onamia, MN. He proudly served in the U.S. Army for a short term.

David liked sitting around a nice campfire, playing cribbage (he loved it when he could “skunk you”),...

Sep 3, 2022

Bruce Oliver Anthony Sr., 86, of Baxter, Minnesota, formerly of Ft. Myers, Florida, went to be with the Lord on September 3, 2022 in St. Cloud, Minnesota. He was born November 4, 1935 in Waukegan, Illinois, the son of Joseph and Ruth Anthony.

Bruce enjoyed a zest for life and loved talking with people. After his service in the...

Sep 1, 2022

Margaret “Margie” (Becker) Swertel, at the young age of 86, formerly from Pine River, MN, peacefully passed away September 1, 2022 at the Bethany Good Samaritan-Brainerd, MN. Born February 1,1936 to John and Margaret (Holdener) Becker in Chicago IL, she was proud to be a “winter baby”.

On September 10, 1955 she married the love of her life,...

Aug 31, 2022

Ruth Marie Dupont passed away August 31, 2022, at the age of 76, after a long battle with cancer. Ruth was born on October 20, 1945, in Albert Lea, MN, to Walter and Burnette Tveit. She spent the first six months of her life in Scarville, IA, with her mom and grandparents while her dad served in the Navy....

Aug 26, 2022

Wayne Allen Sorenson, age 63, of Backus, passed away on Friday, August 26, 2022, at his home. He was born to LaVerne and Wanda Sorenson on July 4, 1959, in Forsyth, MT.

Wayne was a graduate of Pine River High School. He then served in the Army from 1979 -1983 and was stationed in Frankfurt, Germany. Wayne...