Greg Gubrud
Greg Allen Gubrud, 65, of Fosston, Minnesota, passed away on October 20, 2026, after a courageous fight with cancer. He fought through countless cycles of chemotherapy, radiation and surgeries. Greg was a brave man that met each challenge as well as his end with courage and dignity.
Greg Allen Gubrud was born in Fosston, MN on August 20th, 1961 to Marvin and Lorraine (Olson) Gubrud. He was baptized on March 2, 1962 at Rice Lake Church of Bagley and confirmed in Fridhem Lutheran Church of Lengby. Along with his four siblings he grew up in rural Fosston surrounded by animals, woods, open fields and the the freedom of country life. His sense of humor and proclivity for good natured mischief was apparent at an early age. He had a boyish smirk and a twinkle in his eye that he carried with him throughout his whole life. As a boy he would ride his bike to Spring Lake in Lengby, build forts with hay bales and spent many summers enjoying the freedom that nature and being a child in the ‘70s allowed. His cousins have singled him out as the leader of multiple of their adventures. Many times, he mentioned he was glad cellphones did not exist in his childhood.
Greg attended and graduated from Fosston high school in 1980 where he played football. Greg enjoyed people and dressing nicely which showed when he was voted best dressed and someone you’d most like to go on a date with in his senior yearbook. His mom Lorraine loves to recall him going to elementary school with a toothbrush in his shirt pocket. He studied geology and business in college. Greg loved nature and continued to study rocks and trees etc throughout his life.
Greg was a hard worker who was always willing to lend a hand, whether to a friend or a stranger. Over the years, he built everything from decks and picnic tables to animal enclosures, and he carried a lifelong interest in trees, gardens and the outdoors. He found his talent in sales, beginning with life insurance in Texas and later building a successful business in Sweden. He eventually returned to Minnesota and worked as an agent for Farm Bureau in McIntosh, where he valued the people he met and served.
Greg met Christina Månsson in Dallas in 1985, when she was in the United States from Sweden working as a nanny. When she returned to Sweden, Greg knew he could not let her go. He traveled there unexpectedly to see her, and they married on August 3, 1985, at Löddeköpinge Kyrka. They began their life together in Dallas before moving to Sweden, where they raised their children Emily, Jacob and Annie. After 15 years, Greg longed to be closer to his family and the Minnesota landscape where he had grown up. In 2003, along with his family he moved back to the USA and settled in a home on Poplar Lake. Their youngest child, Justin, joined the family after their returnand completed the family.
Above all, Greg loved his family, especially his grandchildren: Lukas, Jack, Norah, Fraya and Maximillian, and his bonus grandson, Milo. Known as “Papa,” he made time for games, appointments, school concerts, sports and everyday adventures. He rarely missed a hockey practice or game and loved watching the “east side boys” grow up. He even loved a cup of rink coffee. He delighted in each grandchild’s individual personality and treasured time spent together. Greg believed a home should be full of life, and he loved the happy noise of children laughing, talking and playing.
Throughout his life Greg remained curious and had an insatiable thirst for knowledge. He loved to read and listen to audio books. Justin still thinks back to the summer of the Garrison Keillor’s collected works on cd with a shudder. He loved history and there wasn’t a book about General Custer he had not read.
His great sense of adventure and wanderlust is something he loved to share with his family. Many adventures were had throughout the years whether through four-wheelerrides through the woods surrounding his house or boat rides on the many lakes or his many travels abroad. Throughout his life he traveled far and wide. He visited Iceland, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Thailand, Estonia, Poland, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Morocco, Spain, Switzerland, Finland, Turkey, Cyprus, the island of Crete, England and Wales to name a few. Domestically he traveled to Florida, California, Texas, Montana, Colorado, North Dakota and South Dakota. He loved Medora and Teddy Roosevelt national park. His favorite trips were back home to Sweden to visit friends, his mother in-law Birgitta, his brother-in-law Magnus and his family. Swedish food and baked goods were one of the best things in life according to Greg. He also treasured the many trips with his dad, brothers, and brother in laws for opening fishing on Red Lake, ice fishing, and hunting. He loved being outside every chance he got. There were many near heart attack inducing moments when he spotted Giganto the fish at the bottom of his ice fishing hole. Many times the spear had to be fished out by a magnet. In fact, several pair of glasses, one spear and a magnet remain in their watery tomb.
Fall was Greg’s favorite season. The colors of the trees, the change of weather and HUNTING. Greg loved to hunt for deer and planned for the season all year long. This was a passion he shared with his family, especially with his daughter Annie and grandson Lukas. For the past few years, he has had his eye on the buck that has been walking at an undisclosed location eating crabapples. Cleverly named the Crabapple buck. He will undoubtedly be watching that buck from above.
Greg did not get the privilege of growing old along side his wife and family. His time ran out long before we were ready. He still had stories to tell, wisdom to share and jokes to tell. So, in his honor we ask that you cherish the time you are given despite aches and hardships. May you live a life where the seasons of love are plentiful just as Greg did.
Left to mourn his passing is his wife Christina at home on Poplar Lake, their four children: Emily Gubrud (Billy Brenden) of East Grand Forks; Jacob (Frida) Gubrud of Malmö, Sweden; Annie Gubrud (Trenton Noetzelman) of East Grand Forks; Justin Gubrud (Neveah Granly) of Grand Forks. His beloved grandchildren: Lukas, Jack, Milo, Norah, Fraya and Maximillian. Also surviving is his mother Lorraine Gubrud; Mother in law Birgitta Månsson: brothers Randy (Wanda) Gubrud, Marty (Kelly) Gubrud; sisters Lauri (Calvin) Larsen, Sheila (Harlan) Olson; brother in law Magnus (Carolina); many nieces, nephews, cousins.
He was proceeded in death by his father Marvin Gubrud; father in law Kenneth Månsson as well as his faithful companion Rueger the giant black lab.
A visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. with a 6:00 p.m. prayer service on Sunday, October 25th, at the Carlin Funeral Home in Fosston. A private family graveside service will be held at Poplar Lake Lutheran Cemetery, rural Fosston. Arrangements are with Carlin Family Funeral Service of Fosston and messages of condolence may be shared at www.carlinfuneral.com.