Elmer Kenneth Brackenbury

Elmer Kenneth Brackenbury of Pine City, Minnesota and known to his family and friends as Buddy, passed away at his rural Pine City home on March 12, 2010 at the age of 78 years. He was born March 7, 1932 on the family farm, the seventh child born to William and Louise (Schliep) Brackenbury. On June 27, 1959 Elmer was united in marriage to LaVona Tilbury, and to this union five children were born. For the first six years of their marriage they farmed together west of Beroun, and later settled east of Beroun on Cross Lake Road where they continued to farm for the next 40 years. In September of 1952, Elmer was drafted into the United States Army and served in the Korean Conflict. He received his honorable discharge from the military at Fort Sheridan, Illinois on September 30, 1960. Following his honorable discharge from the military, Elmer returned to his family and the farm. Most of his enjoyment during this period of his life came from his family, driving truck, and farming which included many a day of quality time with his children in the barn milking cows and baling hay side by side with his wife and children. Elmer enjoyed many things, especially the pleasure that came from a hard day’s work and driving school bus for about 18 years; something he enjoyed immensely. Elmer is survived by his dear wife, LaVona; daughter: Marlene Anderson of Maple Grove, MN; sons: Brian (Lorey) Brackenbury and Matthew Brackenbury, both of Pine City; grandchildren: Jessi (Dustin) Petersen of Blaine, MN, Jammi (Wade) Petersen of Andover, MN, Danielle Anderson and Ryan Anderson of Maple Grove, and Stephanie Brackenbury of Mora, MN who will always remember Elmer as their Grandpa; sisters: Violet Makie of Fridley, MN and Ruth (Jim) Mattson of North Branch, MN; brother: Ralph Brackenbury of Pine City; many nieces, nephews, and friends. He was preceded in death by his infant son, Kenneth John, and later by his son LeRoy George, parents William and Louise Brackenbury, and his sisters Louise Carpenter, Marie Boals, and Myrtle Mullins. Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, March 18, 2010 at the Swanson Funeral Chapel in Pine City with Chaplain Bill Steinke officiating. Inurnment will be in the Birchwood Cemetery. Visitation is Wednesday evening from 6:00-8:00 p.m. also at the Swanson Funeral Chapel.