Delores Bruns

Funeral services for Delores Bruns of Barrett, Minnesota, formerly of Morris will be held Friday, September 10, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. at Messiah Lutheran Church in Hoffman, Minnesota. Visitation will begin at 12:30 p.m. at the church on Friday. Burial will be in Emmanuel Lutheran Cemetery, Swan Lake Township, Minnesota.

Delores Augusta (Woodke) Bruns was born on January 5, 1930 in Morris, Minnesota to Herbert and Adela (Koehntop) Woodke. Delores was baptized and confirmed at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Swan Lake Township, Stevens County, Minnesota. She attended District 38 Country School through eighth grade before continuing her education at Morris High School, graduating in 1948. Living on farms only a couple of miles apart, and attending the same church and country school, Delores met her future husband, Leslie. The two were married on December 10, 1950 at Emmanuel Lutheran Church and began an inseparable partnership in life, farming and family that continued for nearly 70 years. On their Swan Lake Township farm they milked cows, raised sheep, hogs, and chickens, and grew crops together. It was also on that farm that Delores and Leslie raised their three children, instilling in them values of faith, hard work, love of the land, and the importance of family and community.  They actively farmed together for 65 years.  While Delores built a loving home for her family, she also enjoyed being outside on a tractor and especially treasured caring for her sheep.  She tended her flock for over 50 years and her family was never surprised to find a baby lamb or two in the entry of the house when they needed some extra attention from their shepherd. In December of 2017, Delores and Leslie moved from the farm to Morris and later to the Barrett Care Center.

Delores was an active member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Swan Lake Township until its closing in 1969, also serving for many years on its Cemetery Board. Later, Delores and Leslie were blessed to be a part of the faith communities of Aeneas Lutheran Church of rural Kensington and Messiah Lutheran Church in Hoffman. She was an active member of the Country Belles homemaker’s club for over 60 years.  Delores enjoyed tending her vegetable garden and had a green thumb for growing beautiful flowers.  She loved it when her sisters would come to the farm in the summer to freeze sweet corn, can peaches, make the famous red pickles, and fill the house with laughter.  Delores was the family historian and created multiple binders full of pictures, clippings and stories of her ancestors.  In her younger years, she loved fishing and joined Leslie in tending his trapline in the fall.  A vision well remembered by her family is of Delores dozing off with a purring cat on her lap. Above all, Delores cherished time spent with her family, lavishing special care upon her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Delores died peacefully on Monday, September 6, 2021, at the Barrett Care Center in Barrett, Minnesota at age 91.  We trust that she is now held in the arms of Jesus, her own Good Shepherd.

Delores is survived by her daughter, Carol (Daryl) Johnson of Evansville; son, Dwaine (Jeanne) Bruns of Avon; daughter-in-law, Lynette Bruns of Morris, Minnesota; grandchildren: Randy (Natalie) Johnson, Shannon (Jason) White, Kevin (Robin) Johnson, Rachel (Jonathan Barker) Bruns, Joel (Tai Li Nelson) Bruns, Kaitlin Bruns, Jordan Bruns, Nicole (Kyle Kennedy) Bruns, Ashlee Bruns; great-grandchildren: Trevor and Brooklyn Johnson, Raina, Tatum, Britta, and Paisleigh White, Colton, Siri and Corbin Johnson; sister, Marion Buscher of Buffalo; brother-in-law, Gary (Ione) Bruns of Morris; sisters-in-law: Joyce (Dorvan) Foss of Anoka, and Pat (Ray) Kussatz of Morris; and several nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband: Leslie in 2020, her son: Dennis in 2008, a brother: Donald, a sister: Gladys, a nephew: Brad, and a niece: Susan.

Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris is in charge of the arrangements for Delores.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Messiah Lutheran Church in Hoffman or the Stevens County Historical Society.