Theodore Tyler “Ted” Bernados Bruers, 38, of Bemidji, Minn., formerly of International Falls, Minn., died Thursday, Sept. 20, 2012, as a result of a traffic accident near Bemidji.
Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 25, at St. Phillip Catholic Church, Bemidji, with Fr. Don Braukmann officiating.
Pallbearers are Kyle Bruers, Tim Bruers, Hans Bruers, Dave Van Bergen Jr., Adam Laney, Jared Ginter and Cody Norman.
Interment is at Greenwood Cemetery, Bemidji, under the direction of Cease Family Funeral Home of Bemidji.
He was born April 22, 1974, in Minneapolis, Minn., the son on Tom and Fely (Bernados) Bruers.
His family moved to Ranier while Ted was still a baby and he was raised there.
He graduated from Falls High School in 1992. He attended Rainy River Community College and earned an associate’s of arts degree. He moved to Fargo, N.D., and attended North Dakota State University.
He married Sandi Van Bergen on Jan. 4, 1996, in Waubun, Minn. They lived in Fargo and started a family.
Ted worked as a salesman for Menards, Lavelle’s and later for Fabricators Unlimited. He was able to move back to Minnesota after becoming the northern Minnesota sales representative for Fabricators and relocated to Bemidji in 2008.
He was an outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, fishing and camping. He was a huge Minnesota sports fan who cheered for the Vikings and Twins. He also enjoyed fantasy sports leagues and online gaming.
Ted had an unyielding dedication to family. He always looked forward to coming “home” and spending time on the lake. When home on Rainy, he was usually found casting a line off the dock. If he wasn’t doing that, he was pitching a ball to his boys or wrestling around on all fours with them. His daughter is a daddy’s girl and Ted loved spoiling her with cuddles. His wife and family were his world.
Ted was a genuinely kind man who always put the happiness of others before his own. He loved bringing people together and easily lifted the mood everywhere he went with his infectious smile, jolly laugh and joyous spirit. Ted was thoughtful. He was always the last to go to sleep, but still awoke before everyone else to cook a made-from-scratch breakfast for his family. His loving, carefree presence will forever be greatly missed.
His is survived by his wife, Sandi Bruers and children, Kyle, Bradley, Lexi and Gavin of Bemidji, Minn.; parents, Tom and Fely Bruers of Ranier, Minn.; siblings, Tim Bruers of St. Louis Park, Minn., Candy (Jared) Ginter of International Falls, Minn., and Hans Bruers of St. Louis Park, Minn.; father- and mother-in-law, Dave and Ann Van Bergen of International Falls, Minn.; brother-in-law, Dave (Shannon) Van Bergen Jr. of Wichita Falls, Texas; sisters-in-law, Pam (Cody) Norman of Fargo, N.D., and Deb (Adam) Laney of Grand Rapids, Minn.; and several aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Danny Bruers; and sister, Jeanne Bruers.
Messages of condolences can be left at ceasefuneralhome.com.
