'Bunny' Humphrey Ostlund

"Bunny" Humphrey Ostlund, age 75, of Brainerd, died suddenly on Friday, Oct. 22, 2004. Memorial services were Tuesday, Oct. 26, at Lakewood Evangelical Free Church in Baxter with the Rev. Andy Smith of First Lutheran Church in Brainerd officiating.

Bunny L. Leckband was born Oct. 14, 1929, in Hutchinson to Ervin and Esther (Sitz) Leckband. As a young child she moved with her family to Lansing, Mich., and then to Brainerd, where she graduated from Washington Middle School. She was united in marriage to Jack "Pete" Humphrey in Brainerd. The couple later divorced, but remained lifelong friends. Bunny later married Chuck Ostlund. As her children reached their teens, Bunny began to display her paintings in art shows, opening her studio at home in 1974. In the mid-1970s her paintings were chosen for Northwestern Bell's regional calendar, which established her as a serious professional artist. In addition to showing and selling her original paintings, she taught art at local schools and colleges. Bunny was a member of First Lutheran Church in Brainerd. She was very active in the community and was named "Woman of the Year" by the Brainerd chapter of the National Secretaries Association in 1975. From 1992-2000 she enjoyed serving on the Crow Wing County Soil and Water Conservation Board. For the past two years she had spent the winters in Sun City West with her companion, Paul Read. The couple enjoyed Caribbean cruise vacations. Bunny never retired and never stopped being actively involved with her family, her community and her art.

Bunny is survived by her children, Pat (Laurie) Humphrey, of Pillager, Michael (Dodie) Humphrey, of Ramsey, and Mary (Scott) Kotchen, of Fridley; siblings Arnie Leckband, of Merrifield, and Margaret "Maggie" Ryan, of Brainerd; grandchildren Kelly and Molly Humphrey, John and Dan Kotchen, Kassie Heisserer and Skip LaPorte; and loving companion Paul Read, of Brainerd. Her parents and her former husbands preceded her in death. Arrangements have been entrusted to Brenny Funeral Chapel of Baxter.