Neil Gordon Bremseth

Neil Bremseth, age 84, of Preston passed away Thursday February 15, 2018 in Rochester, MN.

Funeral Service for Neil Bremseth will be held at 11:00 A.M. Monday February 19, 2018 at Christ Lutheran Church in Preston, MN with Pastor Dan Bredberg officiating.  Burial will take place in the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Preston, MN on Tuesday February 20, 2018 at 2:00 P.M. Visitation will be from 2-5 P.M. Sunday February 18, 2018 at Christ Lutheran Church and will continue 1 hr. prior to the service at the church.

Neil Gordon Bremseth was born June 6, 1933 to Russell and Florence (Serfling) Bremseth in Canton Township, Minnesota. Neil was the youngest of six children, four brothers: Marvin, Mervin, LeRoy and Ronald and one sister Marion. The family moved to Mabel in 1946 after the death of their father. The family also lived in Canton and Harmony where Neil graduated in 1951.

In 1952, Neil enlisted in the Marine Corps, took boot camp in San Diego, served with the 10th marines at Camp Lejuene, North Carolina before receiving training on the Island of Vieques in the Caribbean. Neil was also in Europe, North Africa, and areas of the Mediterranean. After returning to the United States he was one of a few that were chosen to go to Camp Desert Rock in Nevada where the marines were in trenches a mile away from a nuclear test site named the “Upshot Knothole” where they inspected the site and recorded quite a bit of fallout from the radiation. Neil was then deployed to Korea for sixteen months where he served with the 11th marines until the “Cease Fire.” He was then transferred to the 1st DMZ Police Company attached to the 5th Marines. After his tour in Korea, Neil returned to Camp Lejuene until his Honorable discharge January 16, 1955.

Neil returned to Harmony where he married Joyce Alfson on July 11, 1955. They made their home in Preston in 1956 where Neil went to work for Jerry’s Body Shop for fifteen and a half years before going to work for Anderson Chevrolet for twelve years then was the Fillmore County Solid Waste Administrator for another twelve years before retiring.

Neil kept very busy at the Preston Serviceman’s Club. He was also very active with hunting, fishing, camping, attending school sporting events and of course, playing cards! He was a fan of the Minnesota Twins and the Minnesota Vikings, but most of all, he loved spending time with his grandkids.

Neil served 30 years on the Preston Fire Department and six years as a fire chief. He was a charter member of the Preston Ambulance Service when it first started. He was a lifetime member of both the VFW and Legion Posts in Preston, serving as commander of both posts. He was also a member of the Honor Guard. Neil was a lifetime member of the Minnesota Fire Association, and lifetime member of the Disabled Veteran’s of America. He was a member of Christ Lutheran Church in Preston. He was a board member of Maple Leaf Services in Preston.

Neil is survived by his wife of 62 ½ years, Joyce; a daughter Roxie (Jeff) Knies and a son Greg (Kim) Bremseth all of Preston; five grandchildren, Marissa and Nolan Bremseth of Preston, Brooke (Dave) Nelson of St. Paul Park, MN, Farrah (Oliver) Frost of Savage, MN and John (Dody) Knies of Preston; seven great grandchildren: Dorthea (Shawn) Moore, Jenna and Kylie Shain, Shea Fitzgerald, Charlie Frost, Aydin Rabe, and Raven Knies; a sister-in-law Sylvia Bremseth of Pocatello, Idaho; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers: Marvin, Mervin, LeRoy, and Ronald; sister Marion Glenna; sister-in-law Teresa Bremseth and Marge Bremseth; and a brother-in-law Richard Glenna.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Preston Fire Department, Preston VFW/Legion, or Christ Lutheran Church. Blessed be his memory.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.