Avis Brandenburger

Avis E. Brandenburger, age 92, Rosholt, passed away Monday, September 11, 2023, at St. Francis Medical Center in Breckenridge, MN.

Funeral Mass will be Friday, September 15, at 10:30 a.m. at St. John's Catholic Church in Rosholt.

Burial will be in the St. Nicholas Cemetery, rural Rosholt.

Visitation will be Friday one hour prior to the service at the church.

Avis Elaine Bentson was born to Ingvald and Sophie (Simonson) Bentson on July 26, 1931, in Wheaton, MN.  The family lived in Harmon Township southeast of Rosholt.  Avis attended East Harmon #1 N for all eight years of elementary school.  She graduated from Rosholt High School in 1949.

Avis married Delmar Pohl on March 1, 1951, at St. John's Catholic Church in Rosholt.  To this union five children were born, Karen, David, Keith, Donna, and Dedre'.  They resided in rural Hankinson, ND.  They later divorced.

Avis was married to Walter Brandenburger on June 27, 1975.  They made their home on the Brandenburger farm that was homesteaded by Walter's grandfather.

Avis was active in the farming being "go for" for parts and taking meals and lunches to the field.  She also tended the corn dryer during harvest. Lawn care, yard work, flowers and gardening were her favorite way of relaxation.  She was always ready to play a game of Scrabble, which always ended in laughter.

She enjoyed loading her children and grandchildren in her Gator and going exploring nature, be it animal tracks, bird nests, flowers or just enjoying seeing things grow.  Nothing made her happier than to hear the young ones laughing and telling about the times they had shared with her.

Avis was very community minded, and Walter was very supportive of her involvement in community activities.  Avis was on the board of directors of the Rosholt Area Threshing Association since 1992.  She had also been on the board of directors of the Rosholt Care Center since 1998. Other organizations she had been active in were a member of Greendale Homemakers, a 4-H leader, Vice President of the Richland County 4-H Council, Rosholt Arts Council, Nursing Home Auxiliary, and PTA President.

Beginning in 1979, Avis volunteered as secretary/bookkeeper at St. John's Church in Rosholt.  She also served as Altar Society president, a member of the Altar Society, and CCD teacher.

Avis and Walter became NOAA Cooperative Weather Observers in 1989.  In 2011 they received the John Camponius Holm Award for excellence in recording weather conditions.

Antiques of all kinds were another of her interests and she had many collections of items.  These included old dishes, furniture, lamps, Angels, bunnies, and salt and pepper sets.

The accomplishments of her family, extended family, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren have been a source of pride and happiness to Avis.

Survivors include her daughters, Karen and Franny Renelt of Rosholt, Donna and Ken Baker of Moorhead, MN, and Dedre' and Dave Erickson of Fargo; her sons, Dave and Sheila Pohl of Wheaton, MN, and Keith and Joyce Pohl of Hankinson, ND, grandchildren, Aaron (Amy) Renelt, Amy (Dustin) Hagenson, Amanda (Jeremy) Larson, Shane Thielges (Merete Christianson), and Moriah Thielges (Nathan Bailey), step grandchildren, Dana (Mitch) Anderson and Kari Plantz; grandpuppies, Shivas and Murphy; numerous great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

Avis was preceded in death by her husband, Walter; parents; brother, Clair; sisters and brothers-in-law, Bernice and John LeClair and Sybil and Merlyn Peterson; and several nieces and nephews.