Bryan Fodness

Bryan Dale Fodness, age 67, of Hardwick, Minnesota, died Friday, July 18, 2025, at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, as the result of a motorcycle accident near Jasper, Minnesota on July 11, 2025.

Bryan was born February 23, 1958, to Charles and Lucille (Van Leirsburg) Fodness in Luverne, Minnesota. He grew up on the family farm east of Hardwick. He attended Hardwick Grade School through sixth grade before graduating from Luverne High School in 1976.

Following graduation, he continued to help on the family dairy farm while working a variety of jobs that included bartending, artificial insemination of dairy cows and following his great-uncle, Milo, into the auctioneering business. He attended the Mason City College of Auctioneering in Mason City, Iowa, receiving a diploma in 1984. At the dispersal of the family dairy, Bryan became a non-traditional student at Pipestone Area Vocational and Technical College in Pipestone, Minnesota. He graduated with an ag banking degree in 1986.

During this time he reconnected with Mavis Olson and the two were married on July 4, 1987, in Luverne. The couple made their home in Renville, rural Kanaranzi, Brewster, Lafayette, Lakefield, Lismore and Rushmore before returning to the Fodness family farm near Hardwick in 2003. They renewed their wedding vows on June 16, 2016, at St. Catherine Catholic Church in honor of 30 years of marriage.

Bryan’s career was wide-ranging but commonly involved sales and talking with people. He owned and operated various businesses through the years involving sales of livestock, land, household goods, insurance and real estate. For the past 10 years he operated Fodness Trucking with his dad while continuing to be an auctioneer.

Declaring earlier this year he was officially retired, Bryan renewed his passion for golf with an occasional afternoon of fishing, hunting, or a motorcycle ride. He enjoyed teasing and spending time with his grandchildren and was a passionate Minnesota Vikings fan.

He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Mavis, of Hardwick; four children, Andrew (Laura) Fodness of Lismore, Minnesota and children Emmett, Kade and Madelyn; Courtney (Andy) Blenner of Schaller, Iowa, and children Jayden and Logan; Lyndsey (Adam) Hartman of Sioux Falls and children Easton and Elliot; Adam (fiancé, Adriana De La Torre) of Winchester, California, and daughter Adeline; step-mother, Kathy Fodness of Rushmore, Minnesota; brother, Bruce (JoAnne) Fodness of Hardwick and children Robert (Lisa) Fodness of Pierz, Minnesota; Jonathon (Brittany) Fodness of Vermillion, South Dakota; and Julie (fiance, Derrick Redlin) Fodness of Bennington, Oklahoma; many loving nieces, nephews, family members and friends.

Bryan was preceded in death by his parents; in-laws, Alvin and Betty Olson; sister-in-law, Avis Dragstra; and niece, Heather Zinns.