Neil Craig Grimsley

Neil Craig Grimsley, 71, of Bemidji went home to Jesus on May 20, 2026, after a battle with lung cancer.

Memorial Services will be held at 11 a.m. on May 29, 2026, at River City Church, Becida. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. A luncheon will follow.

Neil was born to Everett and Viola Grimsley on October 10, 1954, in St. Cloud, Minnesota. As a young child His family settled in the Bemidji area where he attended grade school and then Bemidji High School.

He married Connie Rae (Wilson) Grimsley on April 27, 1974. Together they had Craig, Christopher, and Tiffany.  He worked different jobs before working for Burlington Northern railroad until he was injured. In the mid 80’s Neil and Connie bought, and co-owned Grimsley’s Daylight Grocery more commonly known as “Neil’s” where he spent time getting to know the people in the community and high school kids that would spend time hanging out at the store. In the late 90’s he closed the store and worked nights at Park Avenue Amoco. On June 12, 1999, he married Susan Renee (Annonson) and together they welcomed Seth. In October of 2001 he left Amoco to work at Stamart, later known as Petro Serve. He retired from Petro Serve in November of 2021.

Neil had an unshakable faith in Jesus. He enjoyed collecting things, like coins, agates and especially sports cards getting his children involved. He would often go to garage sales looking to wheel and deal, almost always offering less than the asking price. He could not turn down a good deal or an opportunity to turn a profit.

He is survived by his wife Susan, children Craig Grimsley of St. Francis, Christopher (Angie) Grimsley of Big Lake, Tiffany Grimsley of Watertown, and Seth Grimsley (Farah Binkley) of Bemidji; 7 grandchildren, 1 great-grandchild, 5 step-grandchildren, 7 step-great-grandchildren; siblings Merlin (Cookie) Grimsley, Jerry (Geraldine) Grimsley, Judith Leeper, Robert Grimsley, Rick (Mary Jo) Grimsley and Danny (Peggy) Grimsley.

He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, mother and father-in-law, sisters Bonnie Miller and Connie L. Grimsley, brothers-in-law, William Strowbridge, Mitch Miller, Gerald Annonson and Larry Leeper; sisters-in-law Pam Grimsley and Meg Grimsley, niece, Billie Jean Strowbridge and nephew, Jesse Grimsley.

Philippians 1:21 — "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain."

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