Dustan L. Brooks

Dustan LaVoi Brooks, 56, of Kindred, N.D., died Monday, April 14, 2025, at Sanford Hospital in Fargo, N.D., surrounded by loved ones.

Dustan was born on Nov. 11, 1968, in Crookston, Minn., at Riverview Hospital to Lawrence and Lois Brooks. He was the eighth of nine children born to the family.

The family lived on the southside of Crookston, in a time when it was considered on the outskirts of town. Over the years at home, the family would care for horses, a donkey, rabbits and many more animals. Dustan grew up in a busy household where his older brothers became his first and lifelong best friends. The Brooks brothers' antics on the south side of town are legendary, but shall remain unpublished out of respect for their mother.

As a boy, Dustan was an extremely committed Cub Scout and Boy Scout, attending many summer camps and winter camping excursions. He received the Boy Scouts prestigious “Arrow of Light” award and finished his scouting career with the “Life” rank, one short of the Scouts’ highest rank.

Dustan attended Carmen Elementary School before attending Crookston High School. Early in high school Dustan played football before a foot injury sidelined him. He graduated from CHS in 1987. During his senior year, Dustan worked full time as a night manager at the Northland Inn on the north side of town, and he still managed to graduate.

Dustan then moved to Bemidji, Minn., to attend Bemidji State University, where he planned to major in business. While in college he was a member of the Theta Tau Epsilon fraternity at BSU.

While in college, Dustan started working at the former Northern Inn lounge on the west side of Bemidji, rising to the role of manager. He also would hold many other managerial roles at various restaurants and bars in his years in Bemidji, including general manager at Wendy’s. He eventually held many other jobs around town as well, including many years at L&M Fleet.

Dustan and Karyn Skyberg had their son Jared Brooks on Jan. 1, 1991. Jared holds the distinction of being Bemidji’s first baby born that year, a story immortalized in the local paper. Jared, now married to his wife, Amy, and their daughter Lucy live in Fargo. Dustan was a very proud father, and even prouder first-time grandpa. New photos of Lucy would make him beam ear to ear!

Later in life, Dustan moved with his longtime partner “Sis” Sargent and her family to Billings, Mont., spending several years there before moving back to North Dakota to be near family. Dustan remained good friends with Sis and her family through the years.

After returning from Montana, he lived with his brother, Drew, in Grand Forks for several years, making the most true-to-art odd couple you might ever meet. Their escapades created a lifetime of memories for their loved ones. Those, too, shall remain unpublished.

Eventually, Dustan moved to his own apartment in Kindred, N.D., where he has lived the past five years, and where he met his partner Kate Ginger. In his time there, Dustan was a cornerstone to his apartment complex, where he was known as “The Mayor.” He worked tirelessly to build a community for those who lived in the complex, and he welcomed everyone with open arms.

Dustan will be remembered for his zest for life, his generous heart and his willingness to welcome anyone into his circle. And if you asked his dozens of nieces and nephews, you’ve never met a more cherished uncle than “Uncle Dusty.”

He was quick to smile, remained youthful to the very end, and was known for his one-of-a-kind charisma. He had a quick wit, loved every black and white Western TV show ever made, and was a die-hard Vikings fan. He often bragged that he could not pass into the hereafter without first witnessing a Vikings Super Bowl win. Well, it only seems fitting that they let him down one more time.

He also amassed one of the more impressive collections of collections ever collected by a collector. Avon bottles, comic books, PEZ dispensers, VHS tapes, football memorabilia, baseball cards, lighters, train sets, antique cameras. He lost track of more collections than most people ever even collect.

The good Lord broke the mold after fashioning Dustan, a well-loved character.

In addition to Jared, Amy and Lucy, Dustan also is survived by sisters Deborah Koolstra of McBain, MI, and Laura Sweet of Rockmart, GA; brothers Lonnie Brooks of Crookston, MN, Daren Brooks (Carol Steinhoff) of Crookston, and Devlyn (Shelley) Brooks of Moorhead, MN.; a sister-in-law Teri Brooks of Sauk Centre, MN; cousins Cheri (Scott) Smart and Ida Bubendorf; as well as dozens of nieces and nephews; and many great-nieces and nephews.

Dustan was preceded in death by his parents, Lawrence and Lois Brooks, all of his grandparents; three brothers, Michael, Daniel and Drew; and a brother-in-law, David Koolstra.

A Gathering of Family and Friends will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 26, at Faith Lutheran Church in Wolverton, Minn., with a visitation one hour prior to the service. A burial will take place at a later date.

Arrangements are by special family friends, Korsmo Funeral Home of Moorhead, Minn.