Brodie Richard Baird

About Brodie

Brodie Richard Baird died at the age of 36 while in St. Mary’s Hospital in Duluth on January 16, 2025.

Brodie was born 2½ months premature and weighed only 2½ lbs. at birth, which resulted in him being afflicted with a severe case of cerebral palsy and damaged lungs, so was confined to a wheelchair his whole life. He had to struggle to defy the odds his entire life, fighting his way through many illnesses and surgeries, finally succumbing to complications from a bad case of pneumonia.

His mind was fine though, so he communicated by raising his hand for “yes” and shaking his head for “no,” a trick his therapist taught him at only 2 years old.

Despite all of his hardships he always had a smile on his face, and loved to interact with everyone. He enjoyed going “out and about,” experiencing as many things as he could. He loved hanging out with his brothers and their friends and watching his many nieces and nephews grow up under his watch. He attended BSU and school activities like plays, games, concerts and graduations, rodeos, the powwows in both Redlake and Ponemah, church in Gemmell and Squaw Lake, family get-togethers, Camp Courage, and the highlight of his year was going fishing with FHNB (Fishing Has No Boundaries) every summer.

On a day to day basis he was happy to go shopping with Mom, hang out at home on the farm in Gemmell watching all of the farm animals (especially his horse, “Patches”), and going for walks down to Hwy 71 where most of the cars, and especially the truck drivers, would honk and wave to him. He also watched a lot of T.V., mostly good old westerns, American Pickers, Gold Rush, Ice Road Truckers, etc., and also loved listening to good music.

Brodie attended Northome School, graduating in 2008, and worked at the Ita-Bel-Koo DAC in Northome starting when he was in high school, but decided to stay home when covid hit and Mom had retired from teaching school, so was home all of the time to hang out with him. Over the years he had several wonderful PCA’s and helpful neighbors that helped to take care of him. He was well-loved and cared for by many.

He is survived by his mom, Myrna; step-father, David Busch; brothers, Benjamin (Susan) of Solway, Damian (Amanda) of Gemmell, Jacob (Amber) of Solway, and Jesse (Stacy) of Shelvlin; many nieces and nephews and aunts and uncles.

He was preceded in death by his dad, Richard Baird; his uncle, David Leonhardt; and his grandparents, John and Joyce Baird and Hilmer and Cynthia Leonhardt.

memorial service

Funeral Service for Brodie

February 1, 2025

Gemmel Community Church 10609 Ut 20, Mizpah, MN 56660, USA

Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Lunch will follow the service.

Funeral/Cremation Provider: Cease Family Funeral Home