Charles Goodnight, age 90, of Bricelyn, MN, died Monday, Feb. 14, 2022 at UHD in Blue Earth, MN. A Funeral Service will be held Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022 at 11:00 AM at First Baptist Church, 203 S Moore St, Blue Earth, MN, with Pastor Joel DeNeui officiating.  Visitation will be Friday, Feb. 18, 2022 from 4:00-7:00 PM at Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home in Wells.  Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at church on Saturday. Interment will be in Bricelyn Lutheran Cemetery, Seely Twp., Faribault Co., MN. The family prefers memorials to the Prairie River Camp, 52792 80th St, Bricelyn, MN 56014.  Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home in Wells is entrusted with arrangements. Please see brussheitner.com to leave online condolences.

Charles Givens was born July 25, 1931 in Knob Noster, Johnson Co., Missouri, the son of Gilbert and Adele (Ranum) Goodnight.  Charlie grew up with his siblings Doris, Alan and Bill and attended school in Buffalo Center, IA.  From ages 9-12 years old, he stayed with a cousin of his mom’s, Mabel and Burtrum Anderson in Badger, IA.  While there he tended to household chores and helped to take care of their 5 little girls, Cheri, Marlene, Karen, Wanda and Elaine.  Charlie always thought of them as his adopted sisters.  He was united in marriage to Bergetta Ranes on May 4, 1951, and to this union 3 children were born: Brenda, Denise and Michael.  She preceded him in death in 2002. Charlie worked for the Rock Island Railroad for 20 years, and drove school bus for over 10 years.  On August 17, 2014 he married Lynette (Redman) Strom.  Since Charlie lived by the river and had acres of woods, he always loved and tried to protect the deer on his land.  To observe them better, he would hug a tree, and the deer, being inquisitive, would come close to sniff and snort at him. Charlie loved going to auctions and collecting many treasures.  He had collected toy tractors of every brand name over many years.  The birds were another amazing creation of God that was a great past time in Charlie’s life.  But it was genealogy that was his favorite accomplishment.  Without a computer, Charlie wrote many letters to Goodnights and walked numerous cemeteries.  There have been 4 volumes of “Goodnight Family in America” printed.

He is survived by his wife Lynette of Wells, MN; 3 children: Brenda Ross of Crystal Lake, IA, Denise (John) Patterson of Colby, KS, Michael (Jo) Goodnight of Bricelyn, MN; 10 grandchildren: Kendra, Micah (Elizabeth), Ben (Jess), Christina (Jeremy), Kathleen (Brian), Candalynn, Tiffany, Jerrod, Jessica and Paige; 21 great-grandchildren:5 step-children:  Brooke (Sherry) Strom of Wells, MN, Ryan (Sally) Strom of Bricelyn, MN, Crystal (Jason) Hansen of Paynesville, MN, Amber (Mike) Johnson of Bricelyn, MN and Jonathan Strom of New Hope, MN; 17 step-grandchildren and 3 step-great-grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his parents; wife Bergetta; siblings: Doris (Ernie) Hovda, Alan (Joan) Goodnight and Bill Goodnight; son-in-law Lyle Ross.