Brooks - Claire “Butch” Berberich of Brooks, passed away peacefully on his 75th birthday, on Thursday, June 20, 2024, at the North Dakota Veterans Hospital in Fargo, ND. Claire George Berberich was born in Crookston, on June 20, 1949, the seventh of sixteen children born to Leander and Mayme (Asselin) Berberich. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Brooks. Claire was lovingly known as “Butch” throughout his life. He grew up on the family farm in Poplar River Township, Red Lake County, near Brooks. Butch graduated from Plummer High School with the Class of 1967. Following high school, he entered the United States Marine Corp. Boot camp was at Camp Pendleton in San Diego, CA, from there he went on to serve in the Vietnam War. Butch was proud of his military service. Following the Marine Corps, he returned to Minnesota where he worked for Detroiter in Red Lake Falls, American Crystal Sugar in Crookston and hauled beets. In the early 1980s, following the death of his father, Butch took over the family farm. For nearly five decades, Butch milked cows and farmed small grains with the help of his brother, LeRoy. Butch took tremendous pride in his farm and yard. Butch was an active member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Brooks and was a 4th Degree member of the Knights of Columbus. He served on the board of the Brooks Community Credit Union. Butch enjoyed restoring classic cars and trucks and participating in the annual Blast to Brooks parade and tractor pull. He loved threshing bees, flea markets and pawn shops. Butch loved to play Pai Gow in casinos and card games with his grandkids. Survivors include daughter, Ami (John) Schlichtmann; grandsons, Jack Schlichtmann and Charlie Schlichtmann all of Forest Lake; siblings, Marge Miller of Thief River Falls, Loretta Pittman of Thief River Falls, Sue (Joe) Louks of Fosston, Fritz (Mike) Schmitt of Bemidji, Betty (Mark) Lindy of Bemidji, Rita (Kevin) Fenner of Bemidji, Kay Sharp of Red Lake Falls, Connie (Charles) Bishop of Lake George, John Berberich of Brooks, and Janet (Rick) Koivisto of Plummer; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, LeRoy, Linus, and Lawrence; two sisters, Carol Harbott and Alice Balstad; sister-in-law, Sue Berberich; brothers-in-law, Larry Pittman, Tom Miller, Gene Olson, Harold “Sonny” Balstad, Richard Dugstad, Kenny Leibl, and Donald Harbott; and life long friend, Marlene Harbott. Mass of Christian Burial was held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Brooks, with Father Bob Schreiner presiding. Visitation was one hour prior to the service. Burial followed at St. Joseph Cemetery in Brooks. Military honors were provided by the Plummer American Legion Post 623, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2793, and the Minnesota Marine Corps Honor Guard. Condolences may be sent at www.johnsonfuneralservice.com. A00003B2024JN26
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