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James L. Barry
Apple Valley
James L. Barry, age 75 of Apple Valley, died peacefully at the VA Medical Center in Minneapolis on April 8. He was born May 15, 1930 in Duluth, to P. James and Mary Barry. He was a Korean War Veteran.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary. Survived by his children: Lynn (Carl) Hansen of Apple Valley, Michael Barry of Burnsville, Joy (Stan) Childs of Pequot Lakes, Beth (Bob) Zimmermann of Palatine, IL, and Scott (Lori) Barry of Bloomington; 10 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; sisters: Virginia Olson and Donna Froelich; also by other loving relatives and friends.
Funeral service was April 14, at Historic Fort Snelling Chapel, Minneapolis with interment in Fort Snelling National Cemetery.
White Funeral Home, Apple Valley, handled the arrangements.
William B. 'Bill' Wilford
Pequot Lakes
William B. "Bill" Wilford, age 82, of Pequot Lakes, passed away Thursday, April 13 at his home. Born May 28, 1923 in Peoria, IL to Robert Sr. and Marianne Wilford. Bill grew up in Oak Park, IL and graduated from Oak Park High School. He attended the University of Illinois where he earned a degree in accounting. He was a first lieutenant in the Army during World War II and was stationed in the Philippines. Bill worked for McGraw-Hill in New York as a manager in the marketing administrative services department. He retired and moved to Pequot Lakes in 1982.
He is survived by his wife, Gloria; brother, Robert Wilford (Rosalie) of Punta Gorda, FL; sister, Barbara Fry (Ron) of Decatur, GA; stepchildren: Tim Hanratty of Independence, Susan Barkley of Plymouth, Kay Lohmann (Tom) of Sunfish Lake; 10 grandchildren, one great-grandchild, many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his son, Stephen, and first wife, Georgia.
Graveside services were April 21 at Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis.
Arrangements were with Kline Funeral Home, Pine River.
Brian Craig Brooks
Brainerd
Brian Craig Brooks, age 41, of Brainerd, formerly of Fifty Lakes, died on July 1, 2006 at his home. He was born on May 7, 1965 in Minneapolis to Ken and Judy (Miller) Brooks.
He is survived by his parents, Ken and Judy Brooks of Fifty Lakes; grandmother, Pearl Miller, Forest Lake; a sister, Debra Berry, Brainerd, four nieces - Amanda, Tasha, Heather, and Chauntel Berry.
Funeral services were July 6 at the Koop Funeral Home.
Paul Sawyer
Backus
Paul Sawyer, age 83, of Backus passed away Sunday, June 4 at his home. Born September 18,1922 in Backus to Gene and Ida Sawyer. Paul did not venture far from his birthplace. His home is only 50 yards from his parents' homestead. In spite of physical difficulties from his handicap, he ran his own business of buying and hauling scrap iron and operating a caterpillar, making many driveways for people around Pine Mountain Lake in Backus. In earlier years he logged with his father and older brothers.
Paul is survived by two sisters; Lena Kruckow of Backus and Marjorie Palsson of Seattle, one brother Kenneth of Pine River. Many nieces, nephews and great- nieces and nephews.
His parents, a brother Leslie and a sister Inez Friday preceded him in death.
Services will be 2 p.m., Thursday, June 8 at the Church of the Nazarene in Backus. Friends may call one hour prior to services.
Arrangements are with Kline Funeral Home Pine River.
Oscar Louis Fisher
McKinley Township, Cass County
Oscar Louis Fisher, 87, of McKinley Township, Cass County, passed away Wednesday, May 31 in Menahga. He was born in Red Oak, IA on May 10, 1919 to Almer and Jessie Fisher.
His elementary school years were in Iowa and Mildred, MN. High school was in Pine River for three years. His senior year was in Backus where he graduated in 1939.
The next few years were spent in logging and in the harvest fields. He volunteered for military service and entered the army at Fort Snelling on February 26, 1941. He received basic training at Fort Francis E. Warren, Wyoming, Fort Lewis, Washington and Fort Mason in Stockton, California. In February, 1943, he left the States for overseas service in the South Pacific - New Caledonia and the Philippine Islands. The date of separation from the armed forces was December 23, 1945 at Camp McCoy, Wisconsin.
After returning home to Bowen Lake near Backus, he engaged in timber clearing at the time when that work was done with a "Swede" saw and axe. The receipt is still available which states that on March 31, 1947, he purchased the stumpage on the land which became the Pine River Airport (now the Pine River Golf Course on Cass County Road 2) for $720. He was also employed by other well-known timber dealers in the area.
In 1950 he purchased a farm in McKinley Township and cleared the timber to establish field space. Until 1988, the farm produced grade A milk from the Holstein herd. In 1990 he gave up the dairy business and switched to Black Angus beef cattle.
In December, 1951, he married Marcella Morgart of Hackensack. Their children are David Fisher of Edina, and Jane Furuseth of Walker. Other survivors include grandchildren: Geoffrey and Gillian Fisher and Hilary and Hannah Furuseth; sisters: Irene Fisher of Brainerd and Rosemary Hanson of Pine Point on Leech Lake; sisters-in-law: Marvel Fisher of Hackensack and R'Milla Fisher of Bloomington.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Harold, Raymond, Ivan, Arden and Harley; and a sister, Viola Malmo.
Services were held on Sunday, June 4 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, McKinley Township, with Pastor Mark Olson officiating. Burial followed in Bethlehem Cemetery. Arrangements were with Kline Funeral Home, Pine River.
Wilma Witt
Pine River
Wilma Witt, 69, passed away June 4, 2006 at St. Joseph's Medical Center. Born December 15, 1936 to Ernie and Pauline (Whitted) Siltman. Wilma graduated from the Backus School in 1955 and worked at Silbaugh's Department Store for many years. She married Don on June 17, 1955.
She is survived by her husband, Don; son, Greg; daughters, Sue Oberfell (Butch) and Peg Norman (Randy); 12 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; sisters, Gertrude Davies and Doris Lohse; many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, grandson, Keith, and sister, Hazel.
Services will be 11 a.m. on Friday, June 9 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Pine River, with Father Bruce Engen officiating. Friends may call one hour prior to the service at the church. Arrangements are with Kline Funeral Home, Pine River.
Donna (Holker) Gugler
Carlsbad, CA
Donna (Holker) Gugler, age 50, of Carlsbad, CA, formerly of Hackensack and Robbinsdale, passed away May 19, 2006 after a valiant battle with cancer.
Donna is survived by daughter, Amy Gugler, of California, son, Victor Gugler, of Colorado; sisters Beverly (Ed) Duepner of Crystal, Dorothy (John) Marchwick of Pequot Lakes; brothers Baird (Jo) Holker of Englewood, FL, David (Shonna) Holker of Crosslake.
Donna will be greatly missed by family, friends, and co-workers who she touched in life. May we always keep her close in our hearts and our memories.
Mary Audrey Bailey
Brainerd
Mary Audrey Bailey, age 94, of Brainerd, formerly of Backus, died Monday, May 22, 2006 at Woodland Good Samaritan Village. Services will be June 13 at 11 a.m. at the Evergreen Cemetery in Backus.
Mary was born on June 21, 1911 in Backus, daughter of Arthur and Adah (Newman) Miller. She graduated from Backus High School in 1929 and attended Minneapolis Business College. She was united in marriage to W. C. Bailey November 17, 1939 in Backus. Together they owned and operated the Backus Lumber Company in Backus and Jenkins. She worked at St. Joseph's Medical Center for seven years as a physical therapist assistant.
Mary enjoyed gardening, especially flowers. She was a 60-plus-year member of the Eastern Star, a charter member of the American Legion Post 368 in Backus, and a member of the American Red Cross.
Mary is survived by her daughter, Mary Sue Gram, of Jenkins; her nephew, James (Diane) Miller, of McGregor; her close friends, Chuck and Donna Dufour; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; brothers Harry and Richard; and an infant sister.
Arrangements entrusted to Brenny Funeral Chapel of Baxter.
Wilfred "Bill" Gagne
Pequot Lakes
Wilfred "Bill" Gagne, age 83, of Pequot Lakes, died Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2006 at Heritage House in Pequot Lakes. Memorial services will be Friday, Oct. 13, at 2 p.m., at Brenny Funeral Chapel in Baxter, followed by luncheon in Brenny's reception room. Interment will be at a later date, in the family plot at Hamel, Minnesota.
Bill is survived by his children, Theresa Gagne of Portland, OR; David (Lois) Gagne of Pequot Lakes; Patricia Gagne of Nevada City, CA; Richard Gagne of Boring, OR; and Marc Gagne of Sydney, Australia. He has 10 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. He is also survived by two brothers, Vern Gagne of Eden Prairie, and Jerry Gagne of Minneapolis. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Mary Bloom, and a sister, Ruby Floe.
Arrangements entrusted to the Brenny Funeral Chapel in Pequot Lakes.
Michael Bourassa
Crosslake
Michael Bourassa, 36, died Tuesday night, Oct. 3, 2006, of a heart attack at St. Gabriel's Hospital in Little Falls, MN. Mass of Christian Burial was at Immaculate Heart Church in Crosslake Saturday, Oct. 7. Concelebrants were Father Dennis Hoffman and Father Michael Patullo. Burial was be at Pinewood Cemetery in Crosslake.
Michael was born Feb. 7, 1970 in Rochester. He attended St. Francis of Assisi Grade School and graduated from Lourdes High School and Rochester Community College in Rochester.
He is survived by his parents, L. M. (Mick) and Patty (LaBarre) Bourassa of Crosslake; three brothers, Tom and Carrie and their children, Emily and Michelle, of St. Paul, Tim and Debi, of North Branch, Joe and Cindy, and their children, Brittany and Dominic, of Breezy Point; his grandparents, Clem and Lee LaBarre, of Rochester; his uncles, Mike LaBarre, of Denver, CO, Jerry and Tom Bourassa, of Merrifield; and several cousins.
Arrangements were entrusted to the Brenny Funeral Chapel in Crosslake.
Kay Leggett
Pine River
Kay Leggett, age 67, of Pine River, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2006, at her home. She was born March 25, 1939 in Burwell, NE to Leslie and Evelyn Olcott.
She is survived by her husband, Ted; children: Lesli Goodsell of Kearney, NE, Teri Janicek of Ord, NE, Kristi Wetzel of Cairo, NE, Shawn Leggett of Lincoln, NE; four grandsons, one granddaughter and three great-granddaughters.
Memorial services will be held at a later date. Arrangements are with Kline Funeral Home, Pine River.
Shirley Rae Montague
Merrifield
Shirley Rae Montague, 69, of Merrifield, died Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2006 at the Cuyuna Regional Care Center. A memorial service was Oct. 17 at the Brenny Funeral Chapel in Crosslake with Pastor Mark Anderson officiating. A second service will be held Wednesday, Oct. 18 at 2 p.m. at the Zion Lutheran Church in Anoka with Pastor Norm Berg officiating. There will be a gathering one hour prior to this service at the church.
Shirley was born on Oct. 15, 1936 in Minneapolis to Joseph and Evelyn (Peterson) Elmer. She was raised in the Anoka area and attended school there, graduating from Anoka High School in 1954. On Aug. 13, 1955 she married Dennis Montague at Zion Lutheran Church in Anoka, and their marriage was blessed with four children.
Shirley and her sister, Audrey, ran the commissary at the Anoka-Ramsey Junior College for a number of years and then she took a job in the kitchen at United Hospital in Fridley. She was also a Mary Kay Rep for many years. She enjoyed gardening and loved fishing, and still holds the family record for the biggest walleye.
Shirley is survived by her husband, Denny; children, Dan (Cathy), Don (Caree), Doug (Brenda), and David (Barb); grandchildren, Dustin, Chad, Shanna, Eric, Jennifer, Nicole, Brittni, Amanda, and Breanna; great-grandchildren, Lathan, Alexis, and Erin; sisters, Delores Kimball, Arlene Johnson, and Marilyn Matthews; a stepfather, Earl (Edy) Linstrom; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; foster parents; a brother, Jim; and sisters, Patty and Audrey.
Arrangements were entrusted to the Brenny Funeral Chapel of Crosslake.
J. Walt McCarty
Pine River
J. Walt McCarty, age 84, died Saturday, Oct. 14, 2006, in Pine River. Funeral services were Oct. 17, 2006, at First United Methodist Church in Brookings, South Dakota, with interment in Greenwood Cemetery at Brookings. Memorials may be directed to First United Methodist Church in Brookings, Union Congregational UCC Church in Hackensack, or the South Dakota State University Foundation.
Walt was born in Brookings, South Dakota, on June 12, 1922, to Mary (Walters) and George McCarty. He attended Brookings schools and graduated from Brookings High School in 1940. He began his studies in agriculture at South Dakota State College, then served in the U.S. Army in the European Theater during World War II. He was a member of the '44 Kings. He completed his bachelor's degree at SDSC in 1947, then subsequently earned his master's degree from the University of Minnesota in 1948.
On June 24, 1949, Walt married Mary Elise Sherwood. They made their home in Brookings and raised three children. Mary passed away in Oct. 1996.
Walt taught and did research in animal breeding in the Animal Science Department at SDSU from 1948 until 1986, and was named Professor Emeritus. From 1979 until 1984 he was Director of International Programs for the U.S. Aid for International Development Project in Botswana, Africa. He was a charter member and Director of Brookings Barbershop Chorus and sang in a barbershop quartet for many years.
Walt married Judy (Ruth June) Macklin on Oct. 19, 2003. They had a number of good years living in Pine River.
He is survived by his wife, Judy Macklin, of Pine River. His children and grandchildren are: Gregg McCarty and Karen Henell and their son Finn of Portland, Ore.; Ellen and Phil Kohl of Albert Lea, Minnesota, and their children Louis of San Francisco, Calif. and Erin of Minneapolis; and Kent and Patty McCarty and their daughter Sarah of Portland, Ore. He is also survived by his siblings: Gene (Harold) Oxsen of Santa Rosa, Calif., Marge (Rex) Hauser of Rome, Ga., and Gordon (LaDonna) McCarty of Hood River, Ore., and their children and grandchildren.
