Bruce Melvin Davis

Bruce was born on March 23, 1946 to Warren and Dolores Davis.  He attended 1st thru 3rd grades of school at Jarvis Bay School in rural Grasston.  There were 8 students at the school and 5 of them were his sister and cousins.  When he was 9 years old, the family moved to a farm near Beroun, Minnesota.  His sister Lynette was born on his 9th birthday.  As a kid, he worked and played with his brothers and sisters.  There were always chores on the farm.  His favorite was putting up hay.  His least favorite was weeding the garden.  He spent a few days every summer berry picking with his mom and siblings.  After that, we could cool on in our favorite swimming hole.  Bruce attended Beroun grade school.  He went on to graduate from Pine City School in 1964.  He spent his teen years with his best friend Dean Strassner and his cousin Mike.  After graduation, Butch as he was known by his family, worked for about a year until he entered the Army.  He, along with most of his friends and cousins served in Vietnam.  When he returned from the service, he went to work driving truck for Arrow Tank Company in Cambridge, Minnesota.  Bruce worked there for 29 years.  A job he loved.  He married Connie Engelstad in 1968 and bought a home by Spectacle Lake.  Later he bought a farm by Stanchfield. Minnesota.  He always enjoyed life on the farm.  Being close to nature was one of his favorite things.  He had 3 children who were always the most important people in his life.  He was a very proud father to Pam, Wendy, and Josh.  Bruce loved to hunt and go fishing with his brothers and son.  He also enjoyed sitting around afterwards laughing and joking with them about the funny memories that they had over the years.  Bruce and Barb married in 1993 and spent the last 18 years together.  She was a joy and comfort to him.  There are so many memories of all the good times they shared and also going through some bad times together.  Since Bruce was the oldest of 9 children, he was big brother to his siblings.  Bruce was a generous, kind and giving person.  He made sure that all of his siblings received a handmade gift every year for their birthday from his workshop.  He will be sadly missed by all who knew him.  The last few years of his career, Bruce worked for Ruan Trucking until he retired 3 years ago.  Bruce found out he had cancer and fought it with courage and determination.  Never dwelling on this, and always thinking of others.  He will always be an inspiration to all of us. Bruce is survived by his wife Barbara; children Wendy (Dustin) Eddleman, Pam (Anthony) Lopez, and Josh Davis; 8 grandchildren; 4 step grandchildren; mother Delores Davis; sisters: Doreen (John) Gorman, Lynette (Harlan) Munkberg, Melanie (Dwain) Wiener, Juanita (Gerald) Christensen, brothers: Gordon (Sue) Davis, Brad (Dee) Davis, Greg Davis, Brian (Joan) Davis; many nieces, nephews, and friends.  Bruce is preceded in death by his father Warren Davis.Pastor Lyn Sahr officiated at the memorial service: 11:00 a.m. Saturday (7/9/2011) at the Swanson Funeral Chapel in Pine City.  Music was provided by daughter Pam Eddleman.  A time of visitation was held 1 hour prior to the service. Inurnment with military honors by the Heath-Perkins American Legion Post #51 was held at Hilltop Cemetery of Pine City. Arrangements were entrusted to the Funeral and Cremation Service, Swanson Chapel of Pine City. www.funeralandcremationservice.com