Obituaries 01/02/25
Audrey Bowles, 77
Audrey Jane Bowles, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend left her family to meet her Lord peacefully in her sleep on December 21, 2024, at her home in Duluth, Minnesota. She was born on February 20, 1947, in Minneapolis, MN, and grew up in Howard Lake, MN, where she graduated from Howard Lake High School in 1964. She went on to graduate from St. Cloud State with a degree in Speech Therapy in 1970.
Audrey married Dennis E. Bowles on December 21, 1968, and together, they shared 56 amazing years together. Audrey was the proud mother of two children and grandmother to five grandchildren.
Throughout her career, Audrey worked at several school districts throughout Northern Minnesota as a speech therapist and librarian. She also worked at the Challenge Center in Superior, WI. She retired from teaching to devote her time to her family.
She was an avid flower gardener, reader, and loved to take pictures and share photos with her family and friends. As a grandmother, she enjoyed putting together gift baskets for all the grandkids for every holiday and playing games with made up rules so everyone could win. Her love of animals spanned her entire life from growing up on the farm to taking care of dogs and cats through the years.
Audrey is preceded in death by her parents, Everett Melinsky and Ella (Koepke) Melinsky; and brother-in-law, Alan Champion.
She is survived by her loving husband, Dennis Bowles; brother, Rodney (LoAnn) Melinsky; sister-in-law, LaDonna (Bowles) Champion; son, Gregory (Carey) Bowles; daughter, Jennifer (Michael) McPherson; grandchildren, Frances, Noah, Scott, Jacob, Leah; and several nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held on January 3, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church, Hermantown, MN.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to The National Heart Association or Animal Humane Society.
Audrey will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her
Lloyd Griep, 85
Lloyd Douglas Griep was born to Ben and Inez (Fabel) Griep on April 13, 1939. He passed away at the age of 85, in the early morning hours of December 22, 2024, surrounded by family.
In his early years, Lloyd attended the Rockford Country School in Rockford Township and graduated from Delano High School in 1957.
After high school, Lloyd enlisted in the US Navy, serving in California on the USS Yorktown. He retired Second Class Aviation Electronics Technician – as he always said because of his love of numbers – after three years, nine months, and two days of service. He then went to college on the GI Bill, graduating with a four-year business degree in just two years and five months from St. Cloud State University.
Throughout his career, Lloyd held many jobs in technology. The one he was most proud of was his time with Control Data. It was with Control Data that Lloyd was hired to work on the computer at the underground Pentagon to double its speed. About a week into the two-week project, President Kennedy was assassinated, and the project was put on the fast track. He and his team put the computer back together in less than 72 hours instead of the week they were originally given. Then, in 1972, Lloyd moved out of the world of technology and settled into his 42-year career working with State Farm.
Lloyd married Dorothy (Broz) Griep on February 13, 1965. The two were blessed with three children and six grandchildren. A family that he loved very dearly and was extremely proud of.
Lloyd was a humble and generous person who enjoyed initiating experiences that brought people together. This was never more clear than in his love for his hometown, Delano. When he started working with State Farm, Lloyd made it a priority to give back to the community through his many years of charitable and philanthropic work. Many of the groups and organizations Lloyd started are still very much a part of Delano today and are still contributing to the community.
Lloyd is preceded in death by his parents, Ben and Inez; in-laws, Wally and Julia Broz; and siblings, Jerry (Dorothy Jean) Griep, Karen (David) Lenz, and infant brother, John Griep.
He is survived by his three children, Nikki, Jason (Cay), and Kim (Mike Tasche); his six grandchildren, Skylar, Tanner (Bridget), Megan, Lydia, Ben, and Naomi; and the mother of his children, Dorothy Griep. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, family, friends, and the Pat Jakobsen family.
Arrangements by the Iten Funeral Home in Delano, Minnesota.
Gary Hafften, 60
Gary Richard Hafften, age 60, of Buffalo, MN, passed away on December 23, 2024.
Gary was born the son of Roger and Catherine (Schultz) Hafften on February 8, 1964 in Watertown, MN.
Gary is survived by his mother, Catherine Hafften; children, Travis (Kassie) Hafften, Lucas (Nikki) Hafften, Carissa (Jeff) Marquart, Dustin (Julia) Hafften and Angela (Tyler) Leatherdale; grandchildren, Makaya, Breelyn, Brantley, Kase, Raelynn, Scottley, Madilyn, Emma, Jacob, Eleanor and Charlie; siblings, Douglas (Kathy) Hafften and Lori (Tom) Eischens; also nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
He is preceded in death by his father, Roger.
Funeral service for Gary will be Thursday, January 2, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. with visitation one hour prior to the service at St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church in Buffalo, MN.
Interment will be in Lakeview Cemetery in Buffalo, MN.
There will be a luncheon at Huikko’s Bison Creek Event Center in Buffalo following the interment.
Arrangements were entrusted to The Peterson Chapel in Buffalo, MN.
Fredda Kemp, 88
Fredda M. Kemp, age 88, of Monticello, passed away Thursday, December 19, 2024, at the St. Cloud Hospital. Visitation was held Friday, December 27, 2024, from 10:00 to 11:00 A.M., at Peterson-Grimsmo Funeral Chapel located at 250 Broadway St. East, Monticello. Funeral services commenced directly after at 11:00 A.M. until conclusion. Interment followed that took place at Riverside Cemetery of Monticello.
Known to those who loved her as Teen, Granny, Nanny, and Mom, if asked, she would tell you she was just a “tired old bunny glad to ride.” She was born January 8, 1936, the same day as Elvis, as she would proudly tell anyone within earshot, in Wise County Virginia to Fred and Betty (Falin) Sloan. In her teens, in Miller, IN, she met the love of her life, Franklin Kemp. She was married to Frank on February 15, 1959, at the age of 23. Frank and Fredda lived in Miller for some time and then made their lifelong home in Monticello, MN. They were married 55 years.
Fredda was always a small woman but had a tremendous heart. She loved her family, Elvis, and if she did well, the casino, too. She was a very strong-willed woman who had no problem telling you what she thought, for better or worse, and her smile had a way of lighting up a room. She prayed every night religiously, and she is now wrapped warmly in Jesus’ arms.
Fredda is preceded in death by her husband; parents; and siblings, Hubert, Pearl, Enoch (Monk), and Kenneth (Doc).
She is survived by her brother, Howard; her children, Lori (Mitch) Bielefeld, Sheila (Steve) Dehne, Lisa (Mike) Vee; ten grandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren.
She will be dearly missed by all.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Peterson-Grimsmo Funeral Chapel of Monticello, MN, 763-295-2918, www.peterson-grimsmochapel.com.
