Connie Deborah Branden

Connie Branden, age 68, a resident of Barnesville, Minnesota, died on Sunday, September 4, 2011, at home with her husband by her side. Visitation: Thursday, September 8, 2011, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. at Dobmeier Funeral Home, Barnesville, Minnesota. Visitation resumes one hour prior to the service at the church. Service: 11:00 a.m. " Friday, September 9, 2011, at Our Saviors Lutheran Church, Barnesville, Minnesota Clergy: Pastor Jeanne Madsen Connie Deborah Homme was born March 16, 1943, in Barnesville, Minnesota, to Ed and Betty (Spearbeck) Homme. She attended Barnesville School. In February, 1959, Connie was united in marriage to Duane Branden in Detroit Lakes. Together they had four children: Terry, Mitchel, Blaine, and Karen. They moved to Bismarck where she was a homemaker and waitress. They lived in Houston for eight years where Connie was the first female school bus driver. In 1971 they moved to North St. Paul where she was the first female school bus driver and first female bartender at the VFW and American Legion. Then later became the first female manager at the VFW while also managing Hoffman Corner Oil (HCO), St. Paul. They moved to Audubon and she continued to drive school bus. In 1979 Connie moved to Barnesville and she drove school bus for Barnesville Bus Co. and worked for Ralphs Corner in Moorhead. Connie volunteered driving the VFW and American Legion bus. She worked at Churches United for the Homeless in Moorhead. She loved spending time with her family especially her grandchildren, she wrote poetry, loved dancing and roasting people. She was a member of Our Saviors, and formerly a member of the PTA in Houston and the American Legion Auxiliary. Connie is survived by her husband: Duane; children: Terry, Moorhead, MN; Mitchel (Sheila), Fargo, ND; Blaine (Julie), Sabin, MN; and Karen (Dennis Jacobs) Branden, Rochert, MN; grandchildren: Chad, McKenzie, Crystal, Ashley, Dylan, Tasha, Olivia, Blake, and Adam; sisters: LaVonne Wibe, San Diego, CA; Roxanne Boesen, Sarasota, FL; brother, Donald (Linda) Homme, Bensenville, IL; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; brother: Del Curly Homme; sisters: Mitzi Wateland, Dixie Johnson, and Myrna Johanson.