Obituaries 07/09/26
Joseph Becker, 69
Joseph James George Becker, my Dad, was born October 20, 1956, into a family that would have 12 children. He went on to marry my Mom and have two kids of his own. Dad appreciated his childhood but also promised himself that he wanted to give his kids more attention than he was able to get from his Dad, as one of twelve. He took my sister and I fishing and swimming, taught us sports, and how to ride bikes, and he was definitely the attentive father that he’d hoped he’d be.
My Dad faced some setbacks along the way, one of which was a love/hate relationship with alcohol. Before getting married, he had become involved in AA, got sober, and maintained sobriety for 16 years. When I was almost a teenager, he had relapsed with drinking, but managed to get sober again, through AA, for another eight years. His determination for recovery was astounding, inspiring, and, against the odds for people with this struggle, he spent his final years sober and passed on without a drop in his system.
My Dad loved me and my sister so much and always wanted the best for us.
I’ll never forget a time when I was living in Colorado and ran into what felt like devastating times. I didn’t know what to do so I called my Dad, and, after explaining my hopeless situation, he simply said “well, I could come out there and get you, you could come back and stay with me for a while.” And it was like such a load was lifted off my shoulders, I could breathe, again. That was my Dad, making the impossible into something simple.
My Dad was very kind, he listened well, and he replied thoughtfully.
He stood out to people that weren’t used to being around someone like that.
He was Patriotic, loved his country, and really loved good music, especially live music.
My Dad was happy to see me, his wayward son, turn back to the Lord and to find my way back to the Church. He was excited to give me his blessing when I told him I was thinking about asking my Randa, my bride, to marry me. He lit up when I told him that we were giving him a grandbaby… and another one… and another one.
His final few years were spent living at the Minnesota Veterans Home in Silver Bay, MN. He was able to go fishing on Legacy Lake regularly and was even able to invite me to join him on a charter fishing expedition on Lake Superior.
My Dad enjoyed talking with staff and other residents, attended social activities and church services, and got lots of visits from his son and daughter-in-law, step-grandkids, and grandkids. Staff at the Veteran’s Home always let us know that my Dad loved to talk about his kids and grandkids. It was his favorite subject, especially talking about our baby boy on the way, his newest namesake, Pius Joseph Becker, who is due next month, in August.
I learned so much from my Dad. He taught me how to hunt, fish, build a fire, and set up a tent. He also taught me to slow down, listen to the birds, and smell the flowers.
One big thing he showed me, over the course of my life, was how to never give up.
From being diagnosed with lymphoma and going into a lifetime of remission, to falling off the wagon after long-term sobriety and getting back up again. From pushing through congestive heart failure, a traumatic brain injury, and a stroke and then, driving himself out to Colorado to live with me in the mountains, he showed me example after example of facing hard circumstances, but staying strong.
Around the time that he was moving up to the Veteran’s Home in Silver Bay, my Dad contracted Lyme disease. It was eventually eradicated, but in that time, my Dad had lost strength in his legs and was bound to a wheelchair. Being sedentary, his overall health rapidly declined, but still… my Dad pushed on.
He elected to have a PEG tube for feeding inserted when swallowing became too hard and chose to be taken to the emergency room to be treated for aspiration pneumonia over and over, and still he would tell me that he hoped he’d get the nutrition from the tube and recover from the pneumonia, so could get back to physical therapy to get his leg strength back, so he could be fishing by the end of the summer.
He is the strongest man I know, and I will be so proud to tell his grandkids all about him.
I catch myself saying the words “my Dad recently passed away,” but I’m trying to stop saying that because I don’t think it’s true, and I don’t think that it’s what the Church teaches, to which he is a member. The Church teaches, not that he passed “away”, but has “reposed” or “repositioned.”
I believe that my Dad is doing well and is in Paradise with his family, the Saints, the Lord, Jesus Christ, and his Holy Mother, Mary. My Dad is more himself than he’s ever been, unafflicted by the traumatic brain injury or any other bodily disorder, and we are telling his grandkids that he is even closer than he was before because, before, we had to drive all the way to Silver Bay, but now all we have to do is close our eyes, put our hands together, and pray.
We’re praying for you in Paradise, Papa Joe.
We love you and we miss you.
We know that you’ll be praying and interceding for us, especially little baby Joe, and we will look forward to seeing you in the Life to come.
~ Adam and Randa Becker and Family”
Visitation was held Tuesday, July 7, 2026, from 4:00 to 7:00 P.M., with a prayer service at 6:00 P.M., at The Peterson Chapel, 300 Main Street, St. Michael, MN. A Mass of Christian Burial was held Wednesday, July 8, 2026, at 10:00 A.M., with visitation one hour prior, at Saint Michael Catholic Church, 11300 Frankfort Parkway NE, St. Michael, MN, burial with Military Honors followed at 2:00 P.M. at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Little Falls, MN.
Funeral arrangements were entrusted to The Peterson Chapel of St. Michael, MN, 763-497-5362, www.thepetersonchapel.com.
John Blodgett Jr., 86
John Burns Blodgett Jr. “Jumpin Johnny,” age 86, of Rockford, passed away on Saturday, June 27, 2026, at his residence. He was born on March 20, 1940, in Minneapolis, the son of John and Dorothy Grace (Millington) Blodgett.
John was formerly employed as a sheet metal worker and a graduate of the Dunwoody College of Technology. He belonged to The Sheet Metal Workers Local #10. He was an avid volunteer for the community, dedicating his time to the RiverWorks food shelf and thrift store, and also volunteering with Nourishing HOPE Food Distribution.
John was a very active person and a big handyman. He enjoyed yoyos, dowsing rods, paper airplanes, and was an avid metal detector. John also loved football, especially the Vikings! He loved trains, tools, cats, and his hats.
Survived by his wife, “Korki” Ruth Blodgett; children, Joyce “Kitty,” Julie, John III, and James (Krystal); grandchildren, Kirjsten (Jason), Tiffany, Emory, Chelsea, Colton, Logan, Colin and Ethan; sisters, Carol and Barb (Jim); other relatives and friends.
Preceded in death by his parents; a son, Jeffrey Craig Blodgett; sisters, Dottie and Genevieve “Gwennie.”
A Memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 18, 2026, at 11:30 A.M. at Our Father’s Lutheran Church in Rockford. Pastor Dana Peterson will officiate. A visitation will be held on Saturday, July 18, one hour prior to services AT THE CHURCH.
The family is humbly requesting help with funeral expenses in lieu of flowers.
The Peterson Chapel in Buffalo is serving the family. Online condolences may be made to www.thepetersonchapel.com.
Michael Duffy, 75
10/7/1950-6/30/2026
Michael L. Duffy, previously of Waverly, MN, passed away with family present at the nursing home in Georgia, where he and his wife, Dana, moved to in retirement.
Mike was born to Robert LeRoy and Barbara LaVerne (Babb) Duffy in Minneapolis, MN. He attended school at the Basilica of St. Mary’s until the family moved to Waverly in 1961. There, he attended and graduated (1968) from, St Mary’s Catholic School.
Mike and Vicki (his first wife) had two children, Cari and Michael. Later, Mike and Dana (his second wife) had their son, Joshua.
Mike was a very good mechanic, starting his career at Sears and Roebuck in Minneapolis. He was able to change an engine, even while still in high school. He worked in this field throughout his life. In fact, it was through his work that he met his wife, Dana.
Mike was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Barbara; along with his stepfather, Richard Gunderson; and his sisters, Linda Duffy and Ruth Duffy.
Mike is survived by his wife, Dana Duffy; and his children, Cari, Michael, and Joshua; and his grandchildren. He is also survived by his siblings, Kathleen (Ed) Maas, James (Delila) Duffy, Patricia (Curt) Sandquist, Karla (Dan) Farrier, Allan (Shelley) Duffy, Sue Hudson, and Donald Duffy; and many nieces and nephews, other family and friends.
No service is planned, at his request.
Marsha Leffler, 65
Marsha Lynn (Baker) Leffler, age 65, of Waverly, passed away on Thursday, July 2, 2026, at Mayo Clinic Hospital-St. Mary’s Campus in Rochester, MN.
A visitation will be held on Friday, July 17, from 5-8 P.M. at The Peterson Chapel in Buffalo. Funeral Services for Marsha Lynn (Baker) Leffler will be held on Saturday, July 18, at 12 noon at The Peterson Chapel in Buffalo.
A full obituary will appear in next week’s newspaper.
The Peterson Chapel in Buffalo is serving the family. Online condolences may be made to www.thepetersonchapel.com.
