OBITUARIES

Aug 24, 2022

William “Bill” Brekke, age 77, of Pequot Lakes, passed away on August 24, 2022. He was born March 1, 1945, in Salt Lake City, UT. Bill graduated from Pequot Lakes High School, then joined the Army where he worked in the pathology lab at William Beaumont General Hospital in El Paso, TX. After returning home, he attended the University...

Aug 18, 2022

Bryn Robert Hartwig, age 65, passed peacefully in his home in Breezy Point on August 18, 2022.

Bryn was born September 5, 1956 in Brainerd, MN. He attended Brainerd High School and wasted no time after graduation turning every big dream into reality. After attending Staples Technical College, he enjoyed a successful career measuring life to the...

Aug 15, 2022

Peter Gene Turner, age 71, of Pine River, passed away August 15, 2022, at his home with family around him. He was born March 22, 1951, in Duluth, MN, to Harvey and June Turner.

Peter grew up in the Pine River area with his 3 brothers and 4 sisters. He graduated from the Pine River High School...

Aug 14, 2022

James A. “Jim” Syrdal, age 66, of St. Francis, MN, passed away peacefully surrounded by family at Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids, MN, on Sunday, August 14, 2022. He was born to Lloyd and Arlyce Syrdal on January 21, 1956, in Minneapolis, MN.

Jim is survived by his wife of 40 years (January 30, 1982), Cindy Syrdal....

Aug 12, 2022

Arlene Kathryn Tabaka Peterson, age 95, of Pine River, passed away August 12, 2022. Arlene was born on May 29, 1927, at the Walker Hospital to Ray and Vera (Ellis) Tabaka of Longville, MN. She grew up in Longville with her younger brother, Raymond.

While in high school, Arlene assisted her mom at the Longville Post Office...

Aug 10, 2022

Norman G. Lindahl, age 87, of Backus, MN, passed away Wednesday August 10, 2022, at Diamond Willow Assisted Living in Park Rapids. He was born on May 15, 1935, in Gary, IN, to Harry and Florence Lindahl. Norman grew up in Lake George, MN. While working for his dad he met the love of his life, Margaret, and they...

Aug 9, 2022

Pauline “Paula” (Pitts) Kunde, age 90, of Backus, passed away peacefully on August 9, 2022, at Birchview Gardens Assisted Living in Hackensack. She was born on January 30, 1932, in Doerun, Georgia, to William Mack and Ethel (James) Pitts.

On January 2, 1952, Paula was united in marriage to Paul Kunde in Albany, Georgia, and to this...

Aug 5, 2022

Margaret Irene Lindahl, age 87, of Backus, passed away Friday, August 5, 2022, at Diamond Willow assisted Living in Park Rapids surrounded by her loving family. Margaret was born on March 30, 1935, in Middle River to Venus and Ingrid Dau.  Margaret grew up in Viking, MN, where she met her husband, Norman. They married on March 15, 1955....

Aug 5, 2022

Lois Jean (Landin) Asche was the first of 8 children born to Roy and Merva (Rippel) Landin on October 28, 1945 in Mountain Lake, MN. After graduating from Lester Prairie High School, she met and then married Curtis Asche on June 21, 1968. They settled in Hutchinson, MN, where Lois worked 25 years at Hutchinson Technology and welcomed her...

Aug 4, 2022

Joyce M. Ecker went to be with her Lord on August 4, 2022, while surrounded by her family at her home. Joyce was born to Jack and Virgie Birge on June 28, 1942 in Pequot Lakes, MN. She was born in the car on the way to the hospital and that was the last time she was ever early....

Aug 1, 2022

Paul Liane, age 73, of Pine River, passed away on Monday, August 1, 2022, at Brookside Comfort Care, Pine River. He was born to Wendell and Alice Liane on February 28, 1949, in Albert Lea, MN.

Paul is survived by his children: Dylan Liane, Daniel Liane, Gina Remer (Randy); brothers: David Liane, Mark Liane, John Liane; sister,...

Jul 27, 2022

Helen Emerald Dwire, age 88, passed away peacefully July 27, 2022, at the Brainerd hospital surrounded by loved ones and her devoted husband, Dick, at her side.

Helen was born May 26, 1934, to Leslie and Edith McAninch, the seventh out of eight children. She grew up in McKinley Township and went to Backus High School. She...

Jul 16, 2022

Robert Lawrence “Bob” Rice, age 70, of Pine River, MN, passed away on July 16, 2022, at Maple Woods Assisted Living in Cohasset, MN, due to renal disease. Bob was born on September 23, 1951, in Winnebago, MN, to Sidney and Tillie (Wiese) Rice. He grew up in Minnesota and in the sand hills of Nebraska. On May 18,...

Jul 15, 2022

Don Holden, 97, of St. Cloud, MN, passed away on July 15, 2022, at Quiet Oaks Hospice in St. Augusta, MN. He was born Donald Milton on May 22, 1925, to Myrtle (Tye) and Warren “Curly” Holden, at home in Deerfield Township west of Backus, MN.

Starting at a one-room school, he graduated valedictorian from Backus High...

Jul 14, 2022

Our dear mother, Jacqueline Ann Seils, received her “Angel Wings” the morning of July 14, 2022, passing away peacefully in her sleep at the very young age of 92. She will be dearly missed by her entire family.

Jackie was born on June 23, 1930, in St Paul, MN, growing up during the Depression. She and our...

Jul 8, 2022

James R. Ware, age 88, of Aitkin, passed away July 8, 2022, at Rivers Edge Assisted Living in Aitkin. He was born on April 26, 1934, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In 1934 his parents Mr. and Mrs. Chauncey Ware moved to Aitkin, Minnesota and purchased a country gas and grocery store. Jim attended public and parochial...

Jun 28, 2022

Robert “Bob” Stephan, age 80, of Pequot Lakes, passed away on Tuesday, June 28, 2022, at his home. He was born to Arthur and Hazel Stephan on January 11, 1942, in Riceville, Iowa. Bob proudly served in the U.S. Army from August of 1960 to August of 1980. He served in Vietnam, Germany and Korea and obtained the rank...

Jun 25, 2022

Timothy Mark Devorak, age 69, of Pine River, passed away on Saturday, June 25, 2022, at Essentia St. Joseph’s Medical Center, Brainerd. He was born on May 25, 1953, in Fergus Falls, MN.

Tim and his wife, Margaret owned and operated North Country Aqua Care and Central Water Testing Laboratory in Brainerd. Tim enjoyed riding and building...

Jun 24, 2022

Gary Bruce Gardiner was born on September 21, 1948 in Brainerd, MN, to Paul L. and Marge P. (Robideau) Gardiner. He passed away on June 24, 2022 at the age of 73 in the Good Samaritan Society in Pine River, MN, after a brief battle with cancer.

Gary grew up in Pine River where he attended school...

Jun 15, 2022

Nicole Jean (McCoy) Fritz was born to Charles Michael and Donna Jean (Schnoor) McCoy on June 11, 1994. Nicole was the adored baby sister to five older brothers. As a child Nicole was very social and outgoing. She loved outdoor activities like tubing down the river in the summer and hunting for deer in the fall.

In...