OBITUARIES

Jan 19, 2023

Tim Fiebiger, 52, of Pequot Lakes died unexpectedly in his sleep on the morning of January 19, 2023. Tim was born on October 7, 1970, to Adolph and Betty Fiebiger in Mayville, ND. He attended high school to the 10th grade but was passionate about education and later in life pursued a B.S in Organizational Behavior from St. Scholastica...

Jan 18, 2023

You were our favorite hello and our hardest goodbye.

Carrie Ann (Reierson) Mecklenberg, beloved mother and grandmother, 90, of Pine River, MN left this earth on January 18, 2023.

Carrie Ann was born April 26, 1932 to Gustaf and Gina Reierson in Dalton, MN. Growing up, Carrie Ann had a special love for her sisters,...

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

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 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 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

A kind and generous man, Joseph Matthew Tkalcich, went home to be with the Lord on January 5, 2023. Joe'z as he was known by many, began his life in Ely Minnesota, January 12,1954, and lived in the Staples area for many years. In 2000 he and his wife, Tamela (Srock), built their home in Breezy Point, where they...

Jan 4, 2023

It is with great sadness that the family of John Anthony Notardonato of Fifty Lakes, MN, formerly of Temecula, CA and Dolton, IL announces his passing on Wednesday, January 4, 2023, at the age of 93.  John will be lovingly remembered by his children: Linda (Thomas) Steffens, John Alan Notardonato, and Janice (Jet) Bieronski; grandchildren: Matthew (Heather) Steffens, Lisa...

Dec 31, 2022

Jean Kline, age 90, of Pine River, passed away on Saturday, December 31, 2022, at her home. She was born to Reginald “Rex” and Sarah “Sally” Finney on December 25, 1932, in Chicago, IL. Jean’s family meant the world to her, and she was very proud of all of them.

Jean is survived by her children: Doni...

Dec 30, 2022

Benedict “Bennie” Trutwin, age 88, of Fifty Lakes, MN, passed away peacefully at home, on Friday, December 30, 2022. He was born to Nicholas and Elizabeth Trutwin on August 20, 1934, in Holdingford, MN.

In his early days, Bennie was a wheelsman on the Great Lakes for 7 years, served in the Army Reserves, operated a Phillip’s...

Dec 29, 2022

Jo Ellen Benson, age 86, of Pine River, MN, and formerly Blaine, MN, passed away December 29, 2022. She was born to George and Dolores Johnson on February 23, 1936, in Linton, IN. She loves her Lord and her family.

Jo Ellen is survived by her daughters: Dorothy Olson, Julie Melberg, Pamela McCullum (Timothy); 10 grandchildren; and...

Dec 28, 2022

Raymond Arnold, age 79, of Pine River, passed away on Wednesday, December 28, 2022, at Riverside Assisted Living, Pine River. He was born to Roy and Evelyn Arnold on August 7, 1943, in Pine River.

Services will be 11 AM on Monday, January 2, at Kline Funeral Home, Pine River. Visitation will be one hour prior to...

Dec 26, 2022

Carl Kreller, age 70, of Pine River, passed away Monday, December 26, 2022, at his home. He was born to George and Marjorie Kreller on August 24, 1952, in Mandan, ND. From a young age, Carl loved restoring engines and old tractors. He was brilliant with all things mechanical. He also loved being surrounded by all of God’s creation....

Dec 22, 2022

Betty Jane Bostrom passed away peacefully at Good Samaritan Society in Pine River, MN, on December 22, 2022, at age 91. A celebration of Betty’s life will be held at 2:00 PM, Sunday, May 28, at the Hackensack HUB Senior Center.Born Betty Jane Rau in Oak Park, Illinois, to immigrant parents Frederick August Rau and Betty Maier, she grew up...

Dec 19, 2022

On Monday, December 19, 2022, Candy McLaughlin, beloved wife, mother and grandmother passed away. She was seventy-four. Candy was born to Chet and Elaine Nelson in Minneapolis on October 22, 1948. She grew up in Colombia Heights and later married her husband, Bill, on February 5, 1972. Together they had 3 children, Michelene, Sean, and Corey. They would eventually move...

Dec 18, 2022

Robert Niles Phillips Messerschmidt was born on November 2, 1937, to Vernon Messerschmidt and Norma Phillips Messerschmidt in Duluth, MN. He passed on to join God on December 18, 2022, while at Golden Horizons nursing home in Aitkin MN.

Bob spent his early years growing up in Duluth, MN, and enlisted in the US Air Force (Army Air Corp) at...

Dec 18, 2022

Gertrude “Debby” Pollock, age 97, of Pine River, passed away on Sunday, December 18, 2022, at Essentia St. Joseph’s Medical Center, Brainerd. She was born to James and Mary Dibble on July 8, 1925, in Deerwood, MN.

Debby enjoyed playing piano and was an avid reader and gardener. She loved her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, friends and neighbors....

Dec 17, 2022

Heather Rianna Butcher, age 43, of Backus, passed away on Saturday, December 17, 2022, at her home. She was born to Deborah Guilliam Williams and David Bestgen on January 11, 1979, in St. Cloud, MN.

Heather was a free spirit and thoroughly enjoyed nature and the arts, especially music, and was an avid reader and amateur photographer....

Dec 10, 2022

Mary Rose Duret, age 90, of Pequot Lakes, passed away surrounded by family on Saturday, December 10, 2022, at Lakewood Health in Staples. She was born to Lynn and Rose Vinton on September 12, 1932, in St. Cloud. She married Lorin “Skee” Duret on October 19, 1948. Mary’s mother owned and operated Rose’s Inn in St. Cloud where Mary...

Dec 5, 2022

Vera Alberta (Hochstatter) Keep, age 99, passed peacefully in her sleep on Monday, December 5, 2022. She was born October 19, 1923, to Ethel (Stephens) and William Hochstatter in Estherville, Iowa. The family moved to the Hackensack area in 1935 and shortly after, moved to Park Rapids, MN.

Vera met the love of her life, Gerald “Mel”...