Bruce Femling

Bruce Gerald Femling, age 76, passed away in the comfort of his home in Baxter, Minnesota, on March 10, 2026, surrounded by his loving wife and family, after multiple years of medical issues including heart disease and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis for which he had a lung transplant in 2016.

Bruce was born on October 12, 1949, to Cecil and Elaine Femling in Springfield, Minnesota. He loved playing baseball and golf in Springfield and his childhood hero was Mickey Mantle. When Bruce started 8th grade, his family moved from Springfield to Pelican Rapids. He often reminisced about his days as a paperboy in Pelican Rapids. During high school, he helped start the golf team and was first trumpet player in the band. Bruce was a 1967 graduate of Pelican Rapids High School.

He graduated from Moorhead State University in 1971 with a degree in music education. Bruce learned to play every instrument. He was an active member of jazz band, concert band, symphonic wind ensemble, and a rock band called the Marvelous Mirage for which he sang and played trumpet from 1967-1971. He also played in the back-up band for Paul Revere and the Raiders and the Four Tops, and was a member of Phi Mu Alpha music fraternity during college.

From 1971-1978, Bruce served in the 188th Army National Guard Band as staff sergeant and lead trumpet player.

While at Moorhead State, Bruce met his wife, Carol (Hjelmhaug) Femling, in concert band and symphonic wind ensemble. Bruce and Carol were married in Franklin, Minnesota, on August 4, 1973. They were married for 52 years and together for 57 years. Bruce and Carol had three children; Amy in 1976, Tiffany in 1980, and Mark in 1984.

Bruce was an enthusiastic and dedicated employee throughout his career and was beloved by countless individuals he served. He was a band director and concert choir director for grades 5-12 in Franklin School District from 1971-1974; a band director for grades 5-12 in Aitkin School District from 1974-1989; and a band director for grades 5-12 in Crosby School District from 1990-2005. In addition to his full-time teaching career, Bruce spent weekends, evenings, and summers selling cars for MacDonald-Wold, Aitkin Motors, Tower Motors, and Tanner Motors.

Bruce was very active playing trumpet at churches and weddings, singing in church choirs, serving as chairman of the Aitkin Bicentennial Bandstand Committee, and serving as a council member and worship and music committee member at church. Bruce was a prolific editorial writer. He served for eight years as teacher rights representative for Aitkin Education Association, and four years as state representative for Minnesota Education Association. Bruce loved playing golf all the way through life until he couldn’t anymore; he was a member of three golf leagues and worked as a ranger and starter for several years at Eagle’s Landing Golf Course. He loved his five grandchildren and wanted to live as long as he could so he could watch them grow.

Bruce is survived by his loving wife of 52 years, Carol (Hjelmhaug) Femling; three children Amy Pederson, Tiffany Femling, and Mark (Melanie Haldeman) Femling; five grandchildren Cooper Pederson, Elsa Pederson, Maisie Pederson, Raegan Norquist, and Xander Norquist; sister Cindy (Jerry) Oliver; brother Brian (Pat) Femling, sister LeeAnn (Ed) Asker, sister Jill (Dean) Gangelhoff, and brother Tim (Sharee) Femling; brother-in-law David (Eunice) Hjelmhaug, brother-in-law Doug (Pat) Hjelmhaug; step mother-in-law Betty Hjelmhaug; and many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, extended relatives, and special friends. He is preceded in death by parents Cecil and Elaine (Strand) Femling; father in-law and mother-in-law Harvey and Virginia (Sperlich) Hjelmhaug; son-in-law Seth Pederson; nephew Daniel Oliver.

The family would like to thank the lung transplant team at the University of Minnesota for their loving and faithful care of Bruce for more than 15 years. A memorial service will be held at Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Baxter, Minnesota, on Saturday, May 30, 2026, with a 10:00 am visitation and 11:00 am service with lunch served afterwards.

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