Duane G. Earnest

Duane G. "Beaver" Earnest age 63 of Detroit Lakes, MN died Thursday March 1, 2012 at his residence. Duane Earnest was born on October 20, 1948 in Roseau, MN to Garland and Agnes Ecklund Earnest. He grew up and attended school in International Falls, MN, graduating from International Falls High School in 1966. While in high school he played on the Bronco hockey team that won four consecutive state championships. Beaver then attended Concordia College in Moorhead, MN on a hockey scholarship. On December 19, 1970 he was united in marriage to Julia Lucca in International Falls, MN. He graduated from Concordia in 1971, earning a degree in Education. His first teaching job was in Baudette, MN, where he taught high school English and coached youth hockey. They moved to Detroit Lakes in 1974. Beaver taught English in Detroit Lakes Schools for more than 30 years, and also coached hockey for many years, serving as Head Coach at Detroit Lakes High School during the 1980chr(39)s. He later coached track, served as a hockey and volleyball referee, and was an instructor at hockey camps in Detroit Lakes, Bemidji, and Manitoba. Beaver also authored an advanced placement English book, and owned his own publishing company "? School House Books Inc. He enjoyed the outdoors, golfing, fishing, gardening, and landscaping. He loved time spent with his family and his dog "Lucca". He is survived by his wife, Julia; three daughters, Crystal (Nick) Bieter, of St. Paul, MN; Bridgette Earnest, of Detroit Lakes, MN; and Erin (Ryan) Kelly, of Mpls, MN; six grandchildren; two sisters, Louise (Jerry) Dion, of International Falls, MN; and Marie (Todd) Morris, of Woodbury, MN; two brothers, Delbert Earnest, of International Falls, MN; and Glenn Earnest, of San Jose, CA; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and an infant daughter, Heather.