Manferd O. Branby

It is my earnest hope - indeed the hope of all mankind - that from this solemn occasion a better world shall emerge out of the blood and carnage of the past, a world found upon faith and understanding, a world dedicated to the dignity of man and the fulfillment of his most cherished wish for freedom, tolerance and justice.

~General Douglas MacArthur

(This is my Dad's oldest brother)

June 27, 1924–Sept. 7, 1999

Manferd O. "Manny" Branby, 75, retired fisheries manager for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in Detroit Lakes, died at Dakota Heartland Hospital in Fargo on Tuesday, Sept. 7. The funeral was at 2 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 10, from First Lutheran Church, with the Rev. David Peterson officiating. Juliette Gunderson was the organist and the soloist was Janice Ramsey. Interment was at Oak Grove Cemetery, with the West-Kjos Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Serving as the pallbearers were Mike Branby, John Tillisch, Craig Branby, Gary Schaub, Craig Branby and Greg Miller. The honorary pallbearers included Julie Branby, Stephanie Tillisch, Sarah Branby And Shawn Branby.

Military rites were conducted by Jess-Omundson Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 1676 of Detroit Lakes.

Manferd O. Branby, son of Gerhard and Esther Helland Branby, was born at Glenwood on June 27, 1924, grew up and attended school there and graduated from Glenwood High School (Class of 1942). He served with the United States Army Air Corps during World War II, was stationed with the 464th Bomb Group in Italy as a navigator and was discharged as a first lieutenant in 1945.

On Aug. 31, 1946, Mr. Branby and Ruth Fischer were married at Shakopee. They lived in Glenwood, where he was with the DNR, and moved to Detroit Lakes in 1961. He was named as fisheries manager here in 1970 and retired in 1982. The Branbys moved into Park Manor in Detroit Lakes, where he served as caretaker until 1995 when they moved to their current residence.

A member of First Lutheran Church, Mr. Branby belonged to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Eagles and the Elks and enjoyed golf, bowling and working crossword puzzles.

Surviving are his wife–Ruth; a daughter–Kathy (Bruce) Tillisch, Fargo; a son–Larry Branby, Phoenix, Ariz.; a daughter-in-law–Nancy Branby, Grand Forks, N. D.; three brothers–Don Branby, Grand Junction, Colo.; Harlan (Loree) Branby, Anacortes, Wash., and Garfield (Cydera) Branby, Frazee, and two sisters–Bette Schaub, Albert Lea, and Wanda (John) Miller, Bloomington. There are seven grandchildren. Preceding Mr. Branby in death were a son (Tom) and his parents.