Brian Harper

Brian Charles Harper, age 33, of Clara City, MN, passed away unexpectedly from an undiagnosed medical condition on January 25, 2025, at the Montevideo Hospital in Montevideo, MN. Funeral Services will be held Thursday, January 30, 2025 at 11:00 AM at Bethany Reformed Church in Clara City. Visitation will be Wednesday, January 29, 2025 from 4:00- 6:00 PM at Bethany Reformed Church and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church.

Brian was born on February 25, 1991, in Germany, the son of Cassie Futch and Charles Harper. Brian grew up alternating his time between Minnesota, Texas, and Florida. He went to school at Renville County West, graduating in 2009. Following graduation, Brian attended college at Jamestown, North Dakota, where he played football, one of his biggest passions. He then attended Moorhead State in Minnesota, graduating in 2013 with a degree in History. After graduation, Brian enlisted in the Army, proudly following in his father’s footsteps. Brian trained to be a diver in the Army, and was honorably discharged. From there, Brian went on to attend Law Enforcement Training in Brainerd, MN, graduating in 2018. Brian was then employed with the Montevideo Police Department from 2019 to 2021. 

Brian’s path in life eventually took him out to Snowmass, Colorado, where he worked for a short period of time. Brian’s beloved chocolate lab, Moose, was his travel partner and would eventually become the star of the show at the resort. While working in Colorado, Brian continued talking with the beautiful young lady who would become the love of his life, Leah Trulock. Brian knew that he had met his life partner in Leah. Not only did Leah share Brian’s intense love of family, but Leah rivaled Brian’s sense of humor, his definition of fun, and loved nothing more than sharing many laughs at the never-ending stream of stories that Brian was famous for. It was clear to anyone who saw them together that Brian and Leah were meant to be. Brian and Leah had met a year earlier at a Halloween party, where they talked for hours on end. Leah would eventually go out to visit Brian in Colorado and ended up driving back to Minnesota with him in the spring of 2022. 

Brian wanted nothing more in life than to be a family man, and in Clara City is where Brian and Leah’s story became reality. Brian and Leah married on November 4, 2023, in Clara City with Moose as Best Man. Brian went on to accept a position with Chippewa County Family Services as a Truancy Social Worker, working in the area school districts. Brian’s office at work was decorated in one of his passions, Harry Potter. Brian LOVED Harry Potter, the movies, books, and all things related to Harry Potter. Brian’s favorite Harry Potter house was Gryffindor, and Gryffindor house members are known for courage, bravery, and determination. These are just three of many characteristics that describe who Brian was best. Brian’s dream of becoming a father came true when his beautiful daughter, Charlotte James, was born on December 9, 2024. Brian had always told Leah that he dreamed of having a daughter named Charlotte and to call her “Charlie”, and Leah was so proud to help make this dream come true.

Brian was the ultimate family man. Time with family was of the utmost importance to him. He loved his family unconditionally, and cherished the time spent with them. His love for Leah and Charlotte was also unmatched. He was always going out of his way to make sure that Leah and Charlotte had everything that they needed, even going so far as to tell his father-in-law, Jim, that he wanted to become a full-time stay at home dad. That was how much his family meant to him. Brian celebrated the milestone of Charlotte’s birth by getting baptized at the Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church with Charlotte on January 18, 2025.

Brian was a friend to all, never met a stranger, and never met a person he didn’t like. Brian had a story for everyone and everything, and reveled in holding court and keeping a captive audience in stitches, regaling them with his humorous antics, delivery, and self-reflection.

The sudden passing of Brian will leave a void that cannot be filled, an absence that will always be felt, and hole in the hearts of all of those who knew and loved him. Those left behind to cherish his memory include his loving wife, Leah, his precious 7-week-old infant daughter, Charlotte James, his beloved dog, Moose, his mother Cassie Futch (Ken), father Charles Harper (Sue), sister Amanda Dahl (Chris) and children Collins, Kiley, and Leigha, sister Lauren Ornelas (Cody), sister Jordan Ranew (Ben), sister Bailey Dykema (Luke) and son Knox, sister Morgan Zimmer (Nick), children Etta and Noa, sister Kelsey Dehler (Tony), children Saraya, Hudson, Liam, Scout, Sawyer, and Max, brother Kyle Futch (Savannah) and children Briggs and Aubrey. Brian is also survived by his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Jim and Michelle Trulock, sister-in-law, Ashley Trulock, and sister-in-law Kim Van Moer (Gavin) and their daughter Emerance; grandparents, Yvonne Clausen, Karen Jones, Gayle White, Shirley Harper, Roger and Diana Trulock; as well as cousins, aunts, uncles, other relatives and friends. 

Preceded in death by his maternal grandfather Bob Collins, maternal grandmother Billie Brackens and Stump Brackens, paternal grandfather Charles Harper, and maternal grandfather Richard Clausen.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Charlotte’s college fund.