Obituaries 9/30/21
Gerald Bakke, 71
Gerald “Gerry” Bakke, age 71, of Buffalo, Minnesota, passed away September 25, 2021, at his home after a long illness. Gerry was born August 26, 1950, to Elton and Eleanor Bakke in Thief River Falls, MN.
Gerry married Linda Johnson on October 31, 1970. The bride drove the getaway car because Gerry didn’t have a driver’s license.
As a teenager in Albert Lea, Gerry was two-time city checker’s champion. He also fell in love with the sport of wrestling under the tutelage of Paul Ehrhard and won three district titles and placed sixth in the 1968 State Individual Championships.
Gerry initially wanted to be a pastor, but he figured out that pastors only preach one day a week and teachers get to preach for five. Gerry attended Bethany Lutheran College, where he placed first in the 1970 State Junior College Championships, third in the 1971 Championships, and twice qualified for the National Junior College Tournament. After graduating from Bethany in 1971, Gerry continued to study secondary social studies education and to wrestle at Gustavus Adolphus College, where he placed second in the 1972 MIAC Championships and was the 1973 GAC Most Valuable Wrestler.
After graduating from Gustavus in 1973, Gerry started his teaching and coaching career at Nashua High School in Iowa where he was honored as the 1978 Iowa State Wrestling Coach of the Year. In 1980, Gerry and his family moved to Buffalo, Minnesota where he continued to coach and teach social studies until his retirement in 2010. In Buffalo, Gerry’s wrestling teams advanced to the state team championships seven times (1990 - 3rd place and 1991 - 4th place finishes). In 1991, Gerry was selected as the Class AA Minnesota State Coach of the Year. He was inducted into the Dan Bartlema Minnesota Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame in 1999 and was inducted into the Minnesota Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2018.
Gerry loved the community of Buffalo, where he also coached Cross Country, Boys Tennis, and Jr. High Football. His former students talk about the lengths he would go to motivate them, including jumping on desks, making outrageous bets, and shaving his head when he lost those bets. Gerry was a member of the Buffalo Federation of Teachers and made lifetime friendships playing chess with Kip Wold and Charley Keifenheim.
Gerry is survived by his wife of 51 years, Linda; his children, Eric, Buffalo, MN; Heather, Brainerd, MN; Shawn (Melissa), New Ulm, MN; Heidi (Scott Backstrom), of St. Paul, MN; Alyssa, of Pittsburgh, PA; and Kyle, of Warroad, MN; his brother, Darryl (Joyce), of Albert Lea, MN; grandchildren, Isaac, Asher, Levi, and Miriam Bakke, and Axes Chilton; brothers and sisters-in-law: Lorraine Holt, New Hampton, IA; Joan Jurs Cresco, IA; Roger Johnson, New Hampton, IA; Bernis (Tom) Benzer, Buffalo, MN; Rick Johnson, Lawler, IA and Gary (Ann) Johnson, Lawler, IA, along with many nieces, nephews, and thousands of former students, athletes, and teaching colleagues.
He was preceded in death by his son; Alex Neal; parents, Elton and Eleanor; father and mother-in-law, Alvin and Theone (Fouberg) Johnson; sisters-in-law, Nancy Reyerson and Thelma Johnson; brothers-in-law, Stanley Holt and William Jurs.
A visitation will be held on Thursday, September 30, from 4:30 to 8:00 P.M. in the gymnasium at Buffalo Sr. High School (877 Bison Blvd Buffalo, MN). Funeral Services for Gerald Bakke will take place at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church (1970 Edmonson Ave NE, Buffalo, MN) on Saturday, October 2, at 2:00 P.M.
Gerry was proud to be a Bison, and his family loved being able to share him with the community of Buffalo. Gerry would want to remind everyone that: “You gotta go!”
The Peterson Chapel in Buffalo is serving the family. Online condolences may be made to www.thepetersonchapel.com.
Dolores Broll, 95
Dolores K. Broll, age 95, of Buffalo, formerly of Maple Lake, Park Rapids, and Waverly, passed away on Sunday, September 26, 2021, at Park View Terrace in Buffalo.
Funeral Services were held 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 29, 2021, at Heartland Evangelical Free Church, Annandale with Pastor Denny Johnson officiating. Visitation began at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday at the church. Burial was held at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Waverly. The funeral service was live-streamed on the funeral home website.
Dolores Katherine Peitz was born on June 5, 1926, in Watkins, the daughter of Frank and Bertha (Loch) Peitz. She married Myron Broll on October 19, 1943, and was blessed with 11 children. Dolores was a kind, caring loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother. She loved to entertain, be an advocate of her faith, travel, flowers, and spend time with her family.
She is survived by her children, Bill, Carol-Ann (Tom) Dalbec, Donnie (friend, JoAnne), Colleen (John) Juetten, Sharon (Allan) Lindahl, Marleen (Fred) Geyen, Dan (Kathie), David (Lori), and Cathy (Kevin) Sterner; brother, Alvin (Marcella) Peitz; sister, Darlene Kohl; sister-in-law, Sophie Peitz; many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Myron; daughter and son-in-law, Mary Kay and James Scott; son, James; grandchildren, Cindi, Brian, and Casey; daughter-in-law, Judy; brother, Wilfred; and brother-in-law, Robert Kohl.
Dolores’s granddaughters, Lynn Broll, Barb Scearcy, Kari Strandberg, Catina Broll, Stacy Petersheim, and Janie Geyen served as pallbearers with Amy Broll and Anna Broll as honorary pallbearers.
Arrangements entrusted to Dingmann Funeral Care Burial and Cremation Services of Maple Lake.
Obituary, Guestbook and Funeral Webcast online at www.dingmannfuneral.com.
Fr. James Deegan, OMI, 77
Father James David Deegan, OMI, age 77, of Buffalo, passed away September 20, 2021.
He was born on July 20, 1944, in Minneapolis, the son of George and Florence (Freundschuh) Deegan.
He took his final vows 1968 and Ordination was in 1970. Father Deegan served 23 years at Christ the King’s Retreat Center in Buffalo.
He is survived by brothers, George (Darlene) Deegan, of Forest Lake, Edward (Kathleen) Deegan, of Blaine, Dennis Deegan, of Chisago City, and Gary (Sheila) Deegan, of Wyoming, MN; nephews, Jason (Melissa) Deegan, Chad (Naomi) Deegan, Chris (Jessica) Deegan and Gregory (Lindsay) Deegan; six great-nephews; and a great-niece further survive.
He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Florence (Freundschuh) Deegan; and a sister, Elaine Lange.
A Concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial for Father James David Deegan, OMI was held on Friday, September 24, 2021, at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Buffalo. Principal Concelebrant and Homilist was Father Lon Konold, OMI. Father Andrew Knop, OMI gave the Eulogy. A visitation was held at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Buffalo on Thursday, September 23, 2021, from 5-8 P.M.
Casket Bearers were Robert Fix, Mike Holthaus, Jerry Niesen, Robert Pahl, Wayne Shamla and Mike Zumbusch.
Interment St. Henry’s Oblate Cemetery in Belleville, Illinois.
The Peterson Chapel in Buffalo served the family. Online condolences may be made to www.thepetersonchaple.com.
Bryce Russell, 42
Bryce Russell, age 42, Montrose, passed away on Thursday, September 23, 2021.
Memorial service for Bryce will be held Thursday, October 7, 2021, at 6:00 P.M., with visitation starting at 4:00 P.M. at Zion Lutheran Church, 1200 MN-25, in Buffalo. Reception to follow at the church.
Full obituary to appear next week.
Leon Trigg, 75
Leon Lee Trigg, age 75 of Buffalo, Minnesota, passed away September 21, 2021.
He was born on August 25, 1946, in Pipestone, Minnesota, to Lawrence and Caroline (Straw) Trigg. He attended Big Lake High School and graduated with the class of 1964.
Leon was drafted to serve in the United States Army during the Vietnam Conflict. He was inducted on April 17, 1968, and proudly served as a paratrooper with the 173rd Airborne Brigade. He was honorably discharged on April 16, 1970, and was a recipient of the Purple Heart Award.
On August 19, 1972, he was joined in marriage to Leslie Bakke at Zion Lutheran Church in Buffalo. Together, they raised three children.
Leon worked at Modern Tool, Flame Industries, and most recently retired from WSI as a machinist. He had a hard work ethic and was dedicated to his job.
Leon was an avid outdoorsman; he liked to deer hunt, fish, and camp. He would go fishing as often as he could, regardless of the season and weather. He was happiest when he could be sitting out on a bucket on Area Lake trying to catch the biggest fish. Camping out with his family was one of his favorite places to be, and he enjoyed all the wilderness had to offer.
He was a talented and skilled craftsman; he could build or fix just about anything. He had a quick wit and sharp sense of humor. He loved to make jokes and spend time socializing. He could make friends with just about anybody.
Leon was preceded in death by his grandson, Matthew Trigg; parents, Lawrence and Caroline Trigg; and sister, Patty (Don) Wills.
He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Leslie; children, Eric (Kellen) Trigg, Tara Trigg, and Shane (Megan) Trigg; grandchildren, Kiara, Akeia, Essence, and Calvin; great-grandchildren, Emerson and Sania; sister, Valetta; brothers, Larry Trigg and Lonnie (Cindy) Trigg; aunt and uncle, Sharon and Duane Marsolek; and many other relatives and friends.
Memorial service was held Saturday, September 25, 2021, at 11:00 AM with visitation one hour prior at The Peterson Chapel in Buffalo, MN. Military honors concluded the service.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to The Peterson Chapel in Buffalo. Online condolences for the family may be directed to www.thepetersonchapel.com.
