Bruce A. Balfour

Bruce Allan Balfour, of Ramsey, Minnesota, passed away on June 11, 2019, nine days before his 69th birthday. Bruce had endured a five year battle with cancer and peacefully departed in his home and surrounded by his family.

Bruce was born on June 20, 1950 in Fergus Falls, the second child of Donald and Phyllis (Steussy) Balfour. He graduated from Fergus Falls High School in 1969.

He married Jackie Miller in Pelican Rapids, MN in July of 1975. They made their home in Fergus Falls and then later in Illinois, Michigan and finally returning to Minnesota while he was employed as a manager for TG&Y Variety Stores. Bruce worked for many years in sales, selling everything from pre-manufactured homes to hybrid cars and wind turbines. He prided himself on his honesty, diligence and work-ethic. Apart from sales Bruce also spent time working in manufacturing and for a brief time as a manager at Coborn's grocery in Ramsey until his retirement in 2015.

Bruce and Jackie's son Andrew was born in Illinois (1980), Christopher in Michigan (1982) and Brian in Minnesota (1985). After relocating to the Twin Cities they eventually made their home in Ramsey, jokingly saying that they would not move to another state again as they "had a baby every time they moved."

Bruce loved music, science fiction, old movies and carpentry. He enjoyed tinkering with anything mechanical, and was passionate about scuba diving and camping. He was forever the funny guy, hardly allowing a picture of himself to be taken where he wasn't making a silly face. He had even joked saying that his ashes should be “shot into space”... if we could find a thrifty way to do it. He was always a storyteller, and never seemed to update the jokes he would share with others--even if they had heard them many times before. His personality, character and tenacity extend far beyond what the few words here can describe and he will be dearly missed.

Bruce was preceded in death by his mother in 1975, father in 1989, and brother Don in 2018. He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Jackie, and sons Andrew of Minneapolis, Christopher of Ramsey, and Brian (Alysa), of Waukesha, WI; brothers Dave (Barb) Balfour of Detroit Lakes; Jim (Rhonda) Balfour of Eveleth, MN; sister-in-law Marcie (Don) Balfour of Harwood, ND; and granddaughters Ada and June Balfour.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, June 14th at Dare's Funeral Home in Elk River, MN with visitation one hour prior.

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