Butch Berberich

Claire "Butch" Berberich of Brooks, MN passed away peacefully on his 75th birthday, on Thursday, June 20, 2024 at the North Dakota Veterans Hospital in Fargo, ND.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, June 25, 2024 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Brooks, MN with Father Bob Schreiner presiding. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery in Brooks.
Claire George Berberich was born in Crookston, MN 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, MN.
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, MN. 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 Corp, he returned to Minnesota where he worked for Detroiter in Red Lake Falls, American Crystal Sugar in Crookston and hauled beets.
In the early 1980's 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, MN; siblings, Marge Miller of Thief River Falls, MN, Loretta Pittman of Thief River Falls, MN, Sue (Joe) Louks of Fosston, MN, Fritz (Mike) Schmitt of Bemidji, MN, Betty (Mark) Lindy of Bemidji, Rita (Kevin) Fenner of Bemidji, Kay Sharp of Red Lake Falls, MN, Connie (Charles) Bishop of Lake George, MN, John Berberich of Brooks, MN and Janet (Rick) Koivisto of Plummer, MN; 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.
Condolences may be sent at www.johnsonfuneralservice.com