Larry Joe Brendsel, age 58, passed away on June 13, 2015 in the Fairbanks (Alaska) Memorial Hospital after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was born in Dell Rapids, SD on July 4, 1956 to Harold and LaVonne (Nelson) Brendsel of rural Colman. He attended K-12 in Colman, SD and graduated in May of 1974. Upon graduation he joined the US Air Force and after his active duty he was a member of the SD Air Reserves and was honorably discharged in 1980. He was married in 1979 to Nancy Scott from Egan, SD. They lived in Fergus Falls, Dawson, MN and Jamestown, ND before settling in Onamia, MN and building on 80 acres in the country where they made a home for the 2 sons they were blessed with. Larry worked for several power companies as a lineman and later journeyman lineman. He was a hard worker and was very proud of his profession. That is what brought him to Alaska working on putting new power into areas in Alaska that were not yet established. He was an avid hunter, a Harley Davidson enthusiast and loved spending any time outdoors and shining his 1964 Chevy pickup with his sons. He had recently semi- retired and bought a cabin near Fairbanks, Alaska.


Grateful to have shared his life are his sons Jeremiah (fiancé Stephanie) Willmar, MN Jerad (girlfriend Jessica) West Fargo, ND 2 grandsons Aiden of Hillman, MN and Jaxon of Willmar, MN his parents Harold and LaVonne of Colman, SD brothers, Lonny, Wentworth, SD Kelly and his wife Kim of Colman, SD, 3 sisters Peggy and fiancé Stephen of Brookings, SD Karla of Sioux Falls, SD and Kristi and husband Vic of Shamokin, PA in addition to several nieces and nephews friends and family. He was preceded in death by his grandparents Clifford and Ellen Nelson and Knute and Lula Brendsel.

A graveside service will be held Saturday, June 27, 2015 at 10:30 am at the Colman Lutheran Cemetery 1 mile west of Colman on SD Hwy 34.