My beloved husband and best friend, Jeffrey Dean Southerton, passed away peacefully on Friday, April 24, 2026, after a 15-month battle with tonsillar cancer. Jeff and I were side-by-side when he passed peacefully in his sleep, just as he had prayed he would.

Jeff was born in Bloomington, MN to Donald and Donna Southerton. He was the big brother to Dan and Julie. Jeff was a good brother, and was protective of his siblings. He was fun-loving, and filled their lives with laughter. After graduating from Bloomington Kennedy High School, he went to work locally, doing various jobs and then decided to enlist in the United States Navy. He served his country for 7 years, working as an Engineman Second Class on board the USS Proteus, also on Landing Craft Unit –1629, and was deployed on the USS Dubuque. During his service in the Navy, Jeff traveled to several locations, including Hawaii, Guam, Australia, Korea, Japan, and the Philippines. While in the Navy, he also lived in San Diego, CA, where he enjoyed swimming and scuba diving, Jeeping on the sand dunes, playing darts, and spending time with friends - many of whom he continued friendships with for over 40 years.

After the Navy years, Jeff lived in Blaine, MN, working as a stucco plasterer seasonally, and being Mister Mom to his three sons during the off months. Jeff was always involved in his boys' lives, taking them to their hockey and wrestling events, school functions, and being there for them as a supportive and loving father. He enjoyed putting together LEGO sets with his boys, playing video games, and spending time at Rendezvous. Jeff always told me how honored he was to be Dad to his three boys. He loved them all so much, and he always tried hard to show them that love in the ways he knew best. When the boys were older, Jeff was finally able to move to his favorite place in the whole world, Oak Lake, in Kerrick, MN. Jeff grew up coming from the cities to the Oak Lake Campground, where his parents had the first permanent camp site. He told me he always dreamed of living on this lake someday. This land and home were always his paradise, and he was content and fulfilled being home, surrounded by all the wildlife and events that having a lake home in the woods entailed. It makes me so happy knowing he ended up living in the place of his dreams!

Jeff had many hobbies and talents. He loved hunting on the "80" and fishing on Oak Lake, especially in the early morning hours. He appreciated the blessings of "watching the world wake up."  Jeff loved to camp and hike. We shared our Grand Adventure of through-hiking the entire island of Isle Royale, a very special place to us. We also enjoyed preparing for and hiking much of the Superior Hiking Trail. We loved Jeeping with family and friends on trails in Texas and Utah. My Jeff enjoyed woodworking - making furniture, and various other items. He was a master dart player, beating almost everyone he played against! As an adult, he took lessons to learn the banjo, and he enjoyed playing with picking groups at the local bars. Jeff brought his family to multiple Rendezvous in various states for his boys' entire childhood. He took pride in his beautiful and very authentic pre-1840's Rendezvous camp. He enjoyed the black powder shoots (most of which he won!), being the camp cook, and playing banjo with the other musicians. His camp was always where many others ended up come nightfall! Jeff enjoyed playing the card game Dirty Queens – a game his parents brought back from Arizona years ago. He loved having a campfire, either up in the front of the house or down by the lake. He was really good at trivia, and he could tell you anything and everything about all makes and models of cars, various types of music, and different bands. He loved Butterfinger Blizzards, pizza, building LEGO sets of all kinds, and he deeply cherished his family and friends.

I am beyond honored and blessed to have been Jeff's wife and best friend. As difficult as this journey with cancer has been, I thank God for the blessings that He showered us with each day. Throughout his cancer treatment, whether chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or radiation, Jeff remained at peace and in good spirits, focusing more on others than himself. He was a favorite patient both in Moose Lake and in Duluth. He loved to joke with the nurses in his quiet, sweet way.

Jeff was preceded in death by his parents, Donald and Donna Southerton, and his late wife, Laurie Thrun Southerton. I am so very blessed to have been Jeff's wife. He is survived by myself, Jennifer (Laine) Southerton, his sons: Nicholas (Sarah) Southerton, Cole (Abigail) Southerton, and Cory (Leah) Southerton; step-daughters: Madelline Schatz, Juliana Schatz, and Gracie Schatz; grandchildren Stetson Southerton and Alexia Southerton, brother Dan (Peggy) Southerton, sister Julie (Scott) Nicko; many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews, and even more friends. He was a true wealth of knowledge, an old soul, a gifted outdoorsman, and the most attentive and loving husband there ever was. He will be missed so, so much, until we meet him again in Heaven.

Jeff and I would like to thank our special Chemotherapy Angels at Essentia Health Moose Lake, as well as all the other staff who lovingly cared for us through both Essentia Health Moose Lake and Duluth. We also want to thank our families, friends, neighbors, and all of our prayer warriors for their care, dedication, support and love. We are so thankful for our family members who stayed with us and helped us around the clock, to allow Jeff to be able to stay home while on Hospice. We are truly grateful for each one of you!

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight." ~Proverbs 3:5-6

A memorial visitation will be held on Sunday, May 3, 2026 from 4-6 pm in Hamlin-Hansen-Kosloski Funeral Home, Moose Lake.  A memorial service will be on Monday, May 4, 2026 at 12:00 Noon with a visitation one hour prior to the service at Hamlin-Hansen-Kosloski Funeral Home, Moose Lake.  Military Honors will follow the service.  A luncheon at the Covenant Church Social Hall will follow the MIlitary Services.