James Vedbraaten

James Wayne Vedbraaten passed away peacefully at his home in Avon, Minnesota, on 3 June 2025. He was 78.

Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday, 9 June 2025, at St. Bernard’s Church in Thief River Falls, Minnesota, with Father Rick Lambert officiating. Visitation will be held from 3:00 to 5:00 PM, with a prayer service and sharing of memories at 5:00 on Sunday, 8 June, at the Johnson Funeral Home in Thief River Falls, Minnesota. Visitation will also be held one hour before the funeral service at the church on Monday.

James Wayne Vedbraaten was born on 8 December 1946 in Fosston, Minnesota, to Lawrence and Adell Vedbraaten. At the age of six, his family moved to the northeast side of Oklee, Minnesota, where he graduated in 1965.

James did not have to look far for the love of his life; she was the neighbor girl, Renae Brekke. Jim and Renae started dating in 1965 and got married in 1969. They moved to Thief River Falls, where Jim drove the bulk truck for Midland, which eventually became Consumers Cooperative and then Co-op Oil. He oversaw the Thief River Co-op Oil and hauled fuel for them until he was sixty, when he went on his first interview in his life to work at DigiKey. James very much enjoyed his job and colleagues at Digikey, so much so that he stayed working there until he was seventy. However, after fifty-three years in Thief River Falls, Jim and Renae moved to Avon, Minnesota, in the summer of 2022 to be closer to their children and grandchildren. There, they continued to spend their days together, playing bingo, joining new senior citizen activities in town, cooking and baking, playing cards, making holiday platters for family and friends, spending time with their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and a plethora of other activities until Renae’s passing in October of 2023.

Jim and Renae welcomed a son, Scott, in 1970 and a daughter, Shelly, in 1972. James was an excellent father. He was very active in Boy Scouts and also helped with Girl Scouts. He attended all Scott and Shelly’s activities and sporting events, even once parking his truck on 1st Street to catch a few minutes of Shelly’s tennis match, and he spent hours in the cold autumn cheering on Scott in football. He was the best cheerleader for both of his children in everything they did, and eventually his grandchildren as well. Even more, James enjoyed his time at the lake with his family and yearly Sucker-Spearing trips to Shotley, Minnesota, where he helped them create permanent memories and traditions. He was fortunate enough to experience one last year of early May Sucker Spearing this year with Scott, Chris, and Ian.

Jim was happily known as the ‘Candy Man’ while driving the bulk truck. He always kept a stash of suckers for the little kids who eagerly bounced to his truck during his fuel deliveries. However, he is most known and loved for playing Santa Claus to thousands of children at Marshall County Central, Browerville, and Melrose school districts throughout the years. He and Mrs. Claus (Renae) visited the children and donated new crayons, pencils, candy canes, and a myriad of other gifts. James loved giving to others. He also hand-stitched queen-sized quilts and decorated wedding cakes for all of his nieces and nephews (and a few family friends). And many individuals were also the happy recipients of his hand-stitched baby quilts. He truly loved the stitching process while watching westerns on TV and listening to old-time country music.

While James played many roles over the years, his favorite was that of ‘dad’ and ‘Papa.’ James loved his family, and he truly was the best Papa. From his early years with Scott and Shelly, where he fostered an enjoyment of playing cards and board games, to playing with his grandchildren, where their sole goal was to beat Papa, James loved to spend time with his family. Best of all was his belly laugh when he found something truly amusing, and he always had a story or joke (not always appropriate) to share with them. He showed them all how to love as he went out of his way to make them and others happy. James had a kind heart and beautiful soul, and he encouraged honesty and integrity. Even more, he nurtured a love of fun and adventure, as he was not afraid to try new experiences, including attending Renaissance Festivals, road trips, and even his planned summer trips to Duluth for Jessica’s White Coat Ceremony for medical school and to the Black Hills – ‘just for fun.’

While we are all devastated by the loss of such a great and loving man and will miss him forever, we are comforted knowing he is finally able to join the love of his life and walk beside her again.

James is survived by his children, Scott (Heather) Vedbraaten of Browerville, Minnesota, and Shelly (Partner Dean Roering) of Alexandria, Minnesota; grandchildren Taylor (Boe) Garthus, Jessica (Fiancé Adam Stone), Christopher, and Ian Vedbraaten, Bethy (Johnny) Hedine, and Lillian Roering; great-grandchildren Jackson and Charlotte Garthus, and Lyla, Eddy, Ayda, and Olly Hedine; brothers, Roger (Edith) and William Vedbraaten; brothers-in-law, Dale (Shelley) and Arlen (Deb) Brekke; sisters-in-law, Karen (Dave) Rock, Terry Vedbraaten, and Loraine (Duayne) Miska; and many nieces and nephews.

James was preceded in death by his loving wife of 54 years, Renae; parents, Lawrence and Leona (Adell) Vedbraaten; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Arlie and Mavis Brekke; his brothers, Ronald and Mark Vedbraaten; brothers-in-law, Randy and Bobby Brekke; and sister-in-law, Linda Vedbraaten.

Condolences may be sent at www.johnsonfuneralservice.com