Lloyd 'Bear' Griffith
PILLAGER -- Lloyd "Bear" Griffith, age 91, of Pillager, died Thursday, Sept. 2, 2004, at the Staples Care Center.

Irene 'Marguerite' Gocken
ROYALTON -- Irene "Marguerite" Gocken, age 87, a resident of Royalton, Minn., passed away Monday, Sept. 6, 2004, at St. Otto's Care Center in Little Falls. Arrangements are pending with the Shelley Funeral Chapel in Little Falls.

Arliss M. Bohne
TUSTIN, Calif. -- Arliss M. (Weinbeck) Bohne, age 73, a resident of Tustin, Calif., formerly of Little Falls, passed away Friday, Sept. 3, 2004, in California. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 10, 2004, at Holy Family Catholic Church in Belle Prairie, Minn. Burial will be in the Parish Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9:30-10:30 a.m. on Friday at the church.

Sharon Nelson
GOLDEN VALLEY -- Sharon (Shar) Nelson, age 44, of Golden Valley, formerly of Aitkin, died suddenly on Friday, Sept. 3, 2004, at her home in Golden Valley. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Sorensen-Root-Thompson Funeral Home in Aitkin. Friends may call at the funeral home from noon-2 p.m.

Harley A. Collett
Harley A. Collett, age 86, resident of Brainerd, died Saturday, Sept. 4, 2004, at his home. Services will be 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 10, 2004, at Nelson-Doran Funeral Home in Brainerd. Visitation will be 5-8 p.m. Thursday at Nelson-Doran Funeral Home.

Dorris M. Lesh
AITKIN -- Dorris M. Lesh, age 79, of Aitkin, formerly of Minneapolis, died Sunday, Sept. 5, 2004, at the Riverwood Health Care Center in Aitkin.

Nile F. Olson
Nile F. Olson, age 91, resident of Long Lake Township, died Sept. 4, 2004, at his home. He was born Dec. 13, 1912, in Viola Center, Iowa, to Clark and Laura (Rute) Olson. He married Loretta Gosch on Nov. 8, 1941, in Ocheyedan, Iowa.

Gary Hall
CROSSLAKE -- Gary Lee Hall, age 56, of Crosslake, Minn., and formerly of Plymouth, Minn., died Friday evening, Sept. 3, 2004, at his home following several months of hospice care. Gary was preceded in death by his parents, Morris and Eileen (Ervasti) Hall.

John C. Kelm
John C. Kelm, 51, of Vancouver, Wash., formerly of Brainerd, died Friday, Oct. 8, 2004 at the Evergreen Terrace Nursing Home in Grand Rapids. John was born on June 28, 1953 in St. Paul, Minn. to Gerald and Caroline (Monosso) Kelm.

Helene W. Halverson
Helene W. Halverson, age 86, lifetime Brainerd area resident, died Friday, Oct. 8, 2004, at the St. Benedict's Senior Community in St. Cloud.

Magda Knapp
Magda Knapp, age 96, of Pequot Lakes, passed away Friday, Oct. 8, 2004, at Lakeview Commons Assisted Living Center in Maplewood.

Mary Anne Haglin
Mary Anne Haglin, 77, of rural Brainerd, died Thursday, Oct. 7, 2004. She was born July 30, 1927, in Minneapolis to Leonard and Margaret (Suel) Meskan.

Noah Wolters
LITTLE FALLS - Noah Wolters, 82 year old resident of Little Falls, Minn., died Wednesday, Oct. 6 at his home in Little Falls.

Ruth T. Fields
CROSBY -- Ruth Thelma Fields, age 96, of Crosby, died on Thursday, Oct. 7, 2004, at the Cuyuna Regional Medical Center in Crosby. She was born on Sept. 15, 1908 in Sweet Township, Minn., to John and Clara (Paulson) Lessin. She was a retired nurse at the Aitkin Hospital, Member of the Cascade United Methodist Church, Deerwood, the Degree of Honor, and RSVP programs in Brainerd.

Josephine W. Kukowski
GREENBUSH -- Josephine W. Kukowski, the daughter of August and Teckla (Hamernick) Mrozek, was born Aug. 10, 1911, in Morrison County near Flensburg, Minn. She grew up and attended school in the Flensburg area and was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic faith. Following school she worked in the Morrison county area for a number of years before moving to the Greenbush, Minn. area. She was united in marriage to August A. Kukowksi on October 17, 1934, in Flensburg and the two made their home and farmed in Barto Twp., near Greenbush until moving into Greenbush in 1973. August passed away on September 9, 1975, and Josephine continued to make her home in Greenbush and work at the Greenbush Hospital until her retirement at the age of 70. Josephine passed away peacefully Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2004 at the Greenbush Community Nursing Home.

Dene G. (Jim) Olson
Dene G. (Jim) Olson, age 71, of Pine River, passed away Friday, Oct. 8, 2004, at Whispering Pines Good Samaritan Center in Pine River. He was born on Feb. 27, 1933, in Lyons Township, Lyon County, Minn., to Glenn and Dorothy (Weaver) Olson.

John J. Kordich
ST. CLOUD -- John J. Kordich, of St. Cloud, Minn., and formerly of Ely, Minn., passed away Thursday, Oct. 7, 2004, at the Veterans Medical Center in St. Cloud. Graveside services will be held Monday, Oct. 11, 2004, at 2 p.m. at Evergreen Cemetery in Browerville, Minn. Friends may call from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Monday at the Shelley Funeral Chapel in Little Falls.

Father Thomas J. Kisting
PINE RIVER -- Father Thomas J. Kisting, 57, of Pine River, Minn., formerly of Dubuque, Iowa, died Saturday, Nov. 6, 2004, at Itasca Medical Center, Grand Rapids, Minn., as a result of injuries sustained in an automobile accident east of Hill City, Minn.

Joseph 'Joe' Welter
HACKENSACK -- Joseph "Joe" Welter, age 70, of Hackensack, passed away Nov. 8, 2004, at his home. He was born March 20, 1934, in Chanhassen, Minn., to Charles J. and Mary Francis (Williams) Welter.

Florence Gage
Florence Gage was born May 5, 1927, in Waterloo, Iowa, daughter of the late Oris and Viola (Karnes) Gray Sr. She was united in marriage to John Gage, March 19, 1946, in Minneapolis. She traveled with her family in the northwestern part of the United States in the entertainment business.

Robert 'Buzzy' Tima
BACKUS -- Robert "Buzzy" Tima, age 71, of Backus, Minn., passed away Sunday, Nov. 7, 2004, at Southview Acres Nursing Home in South St. Paul. He was born March 21, 1933, in Chattanooga, Tenn., to John and Katherine Tima.

Leo F. DuBois
Leo F. DuBois, age 90, lifetime Brainerd area resident, died Saturday, Nov. 6, 2004, at Woodland Good Samaritan Village in Brainerd. Leo was born in St. Mathias Township Nov. 28, 1913, to Thomas and Alice (Magnan) DuBois. He retired after more than 30 years of service with the railroad.

Cynthia Riehl
OCALA, Fla. -- Cynthia (Cindy) Riehl, 53, died Nov. 3, at the Legacy House hospice in Ocala, Fla., ending her six-year long struggle with Alzheimer's disease. Cindy was born on Sept. 1, 1951, to Floyd and Pauline (Jesten) Motschenbacher in Moorhead, Minn. She graduated from Moorhead High School in 1969 and was employed most of her working life by US West.

Madeline Bast
CROSBY -- Madeline Bast, age 98, of Crosby, died on Nov. 9, 2004, at the Cuyuna Regional Care Center, Crosby. She was born on March 13, 1906, in Crawford, Wis., to Joseph and Alice (Curry) Dull.

Ruby M. Watson
MERIDIAN, Calif. -- Ruby M. Watson, age 99, a resident of Meridian, Calif., formerly of Belle Prairie, Minn., passed away Saturday, Nov. 6, 2004, at her residence.

Arlene Bloom
MAPLE GROVE -- Arlene Bloom (Hansen), age 74, of Maple Grove, died peacefully at her home Nov. 6 of lung cancer. She was a 1952 graduate of Gustavus Adolphus College and a member of Richfield Lutheran Church and Lutheran Church of the Cross in Nisswa.

Mildred M. Bednarek
CROSBY -- Mildred Margaret Bednarek, 82, died peacefully at home Nov. 9, 2004. She was a lady who truly enjoyed the fullness of life, family and friends who generously gave of her love and laughter. Her loving husband, Leo, preceded her in death.

Martha M. Misener
Martha M. Misener, age 87, resident of Brainerd, died Saturday, Nov. 13, 2004, at her home. Martha was born in Lakefield, Minn., July 15, 1917, to John Andrew and Bessie Irene (Pribyl) Sokolik. She married Eugene Misener June 19, 1939, in Lakefield. She was a member of St. Francis Catholic Church, Daughters of Isabella, St. Lucy Guild and the Catholic Church Women.

Marie Radel
ST. CLOUD -- Marie Radel, age 99, of St. Cloud, formerly of Wabasso, died on Friday, Nov. 12, 2004, at Carefree Assisted Living in St. Cloud. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2004, at 2 p.m. from Trinity Lutheran Church in Willow Lake Township, Redwood County, with burial in the church cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to services Tuesday at the church.

Kenneth E. Ehrhardt
ST. PAUL -- Kenneth E. Ehrhardt, 90, St. Paul, died Nov. 13, 2004, in St. Paul. Preceded in death by parents, Edward and Viva (Chatfeild), and sister, Grace Evans.

James Royalty
PEQUOT LAKES -- James Royalty, age 73, of Pequot Lakes, died Sunday, Nov. 14, 2004, at the St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 18, at Crosslake Lutheran Church with the Rev. Mark Anderson officiating. Friends may call from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday at the Brenny Funeral Chapel of Crosslake and for one hour prior to services at the church on Thursday. Interment will be at 1 p.m. Friday in Crystal Lake Cemetery in Minneapolis.

Donald 'Don' W. Brockman
GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Donald "Don" W. Brockman died at his home in Greensboro, N.C., on Nov. 14, 2004. He was born in Minneapolis on March 31, 1929, to William and Edna (Birkeland) Brockman. He was a 1947 graduate of Washington High School and attended Brainerd Junior College. He was a radio announcer and sportscaster for KLIZ when it began operating. After graduating from St. Cloud Teachers College, he was drafted into the U.S. Army. After his discharge, he worked in various states for Western Electric Co. He married Kathleen Roche, of Dublin, Ireland, in 1955. He is survived by his wife; three sons; four grandchildren; and his sister, Ardyce (Chuck) Johnson, of Pillager, Minn. He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Edward and James Brockman.

Vivian E. Groenwold
SUN CITY, Ariz. -- Vivian Emma Groenwold, 84, of Sun City, Ariz., died Nov. 11, 2004. She is survived by her husband, Merle, formerly from Brainerd; children, Joan (Jim) Johnson, Jerry (Peg) Groenwold, of Brainerd, and Judy (Kevin) Stoltz, of Redmond, Ore.; nine grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Memorial services were held at Grace Bible Church of Sun City. Memorial contributions may be sent to Hospice of the Valley, 1510 E. Flower St., Phoenix, AZ 85014.