Douglas William Needham

Douglas William Needham

Born: January 25, 1955

Died: August 31, 2015

Douglas William Needham, 60, of Ft. Ripley, MN died Monday, August 31, 2015 at the Red Lake Hospital.

Funeral services will be at 2:00 pm, Friday, September 4, 2015 at the St. Mary's Catholic Church in Red Lake, Minnesota. A wake will begin at 10:00am, Thursday, September 3, 2015 at the Red Lake Community Center in Red Lake, MN and will continue until the time of the service. Interment will be at the St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery under the direction of the Cease Family Funeral Home of Bemidji.

He was born on January 25, 1955, in Red Lake, MN the son of Douglas "Pug" and Helen "Muggs" (King) Needham. He was raised and educated in Santa Monica, CA. As a young man he married and had three children while living out west. His parents and siblings returned to Minnesota in 1976 and he moved back shortly thereafter. He lived in the Brainerd area and worked hard in a variety of jobs. He worked in property management, managed a bar, security for Brainerd International Raceway, at Cragun's resort, and for the last 12 years he's worked for the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Housing division. He fought hard for 29 years of sobriety, it was an important part of who he was. He was a well known protector of the environment, dedicating time to protesting those who pollute the water, air, and land. He enjoyed spending time at the Casino, and loved to spend time with his family, especially his grandchildren.

He is survived by his: Life partner, Lisa Levig of Ft. Ripley, MN,

Children, Lisa Carter of Las Vegas, NV,

David Needham of Las Vegas, NV,

Emma Needham of Ft. Ripley, MN,

Lacey Needham of Ft. Ripley, MN,

Grandchildren: Tristan, Kylie, Seth, Mikey, Auna, and Felix, .

Brothers, Bob (Renee) Needham of Red Lake, MN,

Jim (Tharen) Needham of Red Lake, MN,

Rick (Devonna) Needham of Red Lake, MN,

Paternal Aunt, Darlene "Wooda" Needham,

Maternal Uncles, Jim "Pluke" (Evelyn) King,

George (Judy) King,

Maternal Aunt, Agnes (Robert) King,

Numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his Paternal Grandparents John and Belle Needham, Maternal Grandparents William and Emma King, his parents Douglas and Helen Needham, son Douglas Needham Jr., an infant sister, paternal uncles George "Horn" Needham, John "Joe Toe" Needham, Clayton "Beans" Needham, Edward "Ado" Needham, Gregory "Tiggs" Needham, paternal aunts Rose Bailey, Gladys "Daw" Ahrens, Ramona Desjarlait, Delores "Bebs" Lussier, maternal uncles Adolf King, Robert King, Paul "Leo" King, maternal aunts Anna Vinji, and Ethel Sorenson.