By Brenda Erdahl:
If you were a friend of Harold Brutlag’s, you likely found your name in his weekly column Brute’s Bleat a time or two. Maybe you went on a pheasant hunting trip together, hauled in a great catch on a local lake or had a conversation about the weather at a Laker’s baseball game. It’s a wonder Brute’s Bleat was nothing but names because Brutlag was a friend to many.
Brutlag, the owner of the Maple Lake Messenger for 33 years, retired volunteer firefighter, former city councilman and holder of numerous other titles passed away at his home on Tuesday, Jan. 28 at the esteemed age of 92.
Although he sold the Paper in 2000, up until early fall, Brutlag could still be found writing his column at the Messenger office. Friends would say he didn’t know how to quit.
He was always ready to go on one more hunt, even if his companions, although half his age, were ready to call it a day, Daryl Hennen said. He was the same way about fishing. He always wanted to hang in there right to the end.
To read all about Harold’s interesting life, pick up a Messenger today!