Leslie Bruns

There will be a private family service for Leslie Bruns of Barrett, formerly of Morris, Minnesota. Burial will be at Emmanuel Lutheran Cemetery, Swan Lake Township, Minnesota.

There will be a live stream of Leslie’s service starting at 1:30 pm on Saturday, May 23, 2020.  To view the service, on this page, scroll to the bottom and the service will begin at 1:30.  The funeral service will also be uploaded to our website if you are unable to attend the live stream.

Please consider leaving a personalized photo/message for the family through our Heartstrings Program, which is located on our home page. Starbuck Funeral Home will display your photo/message for the family to have a tangible presence at their services through this difficult time.

To protect the health and safety of all, services are currently being limited as required by state and local authorities and the CDC. Expressions of sympathy during this time can be left on the condolences page available with the obituary on our website. We also encourage you to view the video tribute that will be available. Check the funeral home website for the latest COVID-19 update.

Leslie Jean Bruns was born on December 27, 1928 in Morris, Minnesota to Lester and Sophia (Anderson) Bruns.  Leslie was baptized and confirmed at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Swan Lake Township, Stevens County, Minnesota.  He attended District 38 Country School through eighth grade, before continuing his education at the Morris Ag School, graduating in 1946.  Living on farms only a couple of miles apart, and attending the same church and country school, Leslie met his future bride, Delores Woodke.  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 hogs, sheep, and chickens, and grew crops together.  It was also on that farm that Leslie and Delores raised their three children, instilling in them values of faith, hard work, love of the soil, and the importance of family and community.   Leslie actively farmed for 65 years, in later years alongside his son, Dennis.   Though he stopped farming in 2014, Leslie kept an eye on things as his grandchildren continued the operation.   Leslie was most at home on a tractor, tilling the soil and being a good steward of the land in his care. In December of 2017; Leslie and Delores moved from the farm to Morris and later to the Barrett Care Center.

Leslie 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, Leslie and Delores were blessed to be a part of the faith communities of Aeneas Lutheran Church of rural Kensington and Messiah Lutheran Church in Hoffman.  He was a member of the Swan Lake Township Board and took great pride in his role as township clerk for over 50 years. Leslie enjoyed trapping, hunting, and fishing; pastimes he often enjoyed with his children and grandchildren. In his younger days, Leslie enjoyed playing catcher on the Legion fast pitch softball team and was still playing slow pitch softball at age 50.  He and Delores were also avid followers of the Minnesota Twins, Gophers and Vikings.  Most importantly, Leslie cherished time spent with his family, lavishing special care upon his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Leslie died peacefully on Sunday, May 17, 2020, at the Barrett Care Center in Barrett, Minnesota at age 91.

Leslie is survived by his wife, Delores of Barrett; 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 – Significant Other) Bruns, Kaitlin Bruns, Jordan Bruns, Nicole (Kyle Kennedy) Bruns, Ashlee Bruns; great-grandchildren: Trevor Johnson, Raina, Tatum, Britta, and Paisleigh White, Colton, Siri and Corbin Johnson; brother, Gary (Ione) Bruns of Morris; sisters: Joyce (Dorvan) Foss of Anoka, and Pat (Ray) Kussatz of Morris; sister-in-law, Marion Buscher of Buffalo; and several nieces and nephews.  He is preceded in death by his son. Dennis; two brothers: Ronald and Walter, a nephew: Brad, and a niece: Susan.

Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris is in charge of arrangements for Leslie.