Obituary of Muriel Ruth Brand

Muriel Ruth Brand (nee Gerard) 3/14/2024

Muriel Brand, age 95, of Maple Plain, MN passed away March 14, 2024 at Haven Homes in Maple Plain. Proceeded in death by husband, Winfield “Win” Brand; parents, Ruth (Johnson) and George H. Gerard; sister Lois E. Gerard; daughter, Nancy Brand and son, Douglas Brand. Survived by sons, David (Cindee) Brand, Dean (Debbie) Brand; 8 grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren; sister, Dolores Hyer.

Muriel Brand was born April 14, 1928 in Buffalo, MN. She grew up on a farm on Deer Lake near Buffalo. Some of the memories shared with family were of bringing the cows home across the isthmus between Deer lake and Goose Lake using a boat while the cows walked across the shallow water. The family later moved to a farm just north of Montrose. Muriel graduated from Buffalo High School. She attended St Cloud State and graduated with a BS in Business Education. She started her teaching career in West Concord, MN teaching for two years.

In 1951, she organized the Business Ed Dept for Orono High School and taught classes. She lived on the shore of Lake Minnetonka and met the love of her life, Winfield ”Win” J. Brand. (Winfield died 11/19/2012.) They married at Bethel United Methodist Church in Mound. She had to quit teaching because she got pregnant with David. (That was the way it was back then!) One of her students at Orono was Marvin Johnson, mayor of Independence, MN.

In 1954, She and Win purchased a home in St Louis Park. She stayed home to care for 3 boys, David, Douglas and Dean. She was a substitute teacher for St. Louis Park and Hopkins schools. They attended Aldersgate United Methodist Church. She taught Adult Education for St. Louis Park Schools and night classes for HCAVTI (Hennepin Tech Centers)from 1959 to 1976. Nancy Brand was born in 1967.

In 1976, Muriel and Win purchased the Jewelry Store in Cokato, MN, finally retiring from the business in 1995. In 1976, they purchased a home in Cokato and Muriel continued to teach night classes in Cokato and Delano. She managed the HUD building for Senior Citizens in Cokato along with numerous activities sponsored by small town business owners. They attended Evangelical Lutheran Church Cokato. During this time they bought a lake home on Big Swan Lake, enjoying many hours on their deck with friends and also viewing the local wildlife(including wild grandchildren).

Muriel and Win took many trips to Florida and Alaska (to visit her sister, Dolores). Their travels took them to Australia and to Europe to visit foreign exchange students from Denmark that they hosted in Cokato and to visit relatives of Win's in Sweden.

After Win died, Muriel came to live with Dave and Cindee and traveled with them for several years, first in an RV and then later to Mesa, AZ in the winter. Eventually, Muriel moved into Haven Homes in Maple Plain, residing there from 2020 – 2024.

Muriel was a photographer, winning many local photo contests. She loved scrabble and played many online “Words with Friends” games. She knitted and did puzzles. She watched her grandkids at her house on Big Swan Lake near Dassel so they all became well acquainted with her. She will be missed!

A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, May 11, 2024 from 1:30-3:30pm at Haven Homes Chapel, 4848 Gateway Blvd, Maple Plain.