Brian Edward Briggs, 69, of Knife Lake, Minnesota passed away peacefully at home on August 4, 2026. A celebration of Life will take place on Friday, August 28 at Bradshaw Funeral Home in Stillwater at 4pm. Guests are encouraged to wear tropical shirts.

Brian was born in St. Paul on October 26, 1956. He was raised on the east side and graduated from Johnson High School in 1974. He married his first wife, Colleen Hanson, in 1976 and together they had two children, Carrie and Chrissie. After ten years of marriage, they chose to divorce but still remained lifelong friends and coparents.

Brian started working as a ramp agent for Northwest Airlines in 1980. His work allowed him to live in Spokane, WA, Tampa, FL, and Memphis, TN. While working for Northwest, he made a few of his closest lifelong friends - Chris Wilcox, Kristi Moriary, and Karen Teaman. Northwest also led him to the love of his life. On August 15, 1992, after he worked his shift at Northwest, he attended a birthday party at the Mall of America and met Laura Savoie. They were married three years later on May 20, 1995.

In 2000, Brian left Northwest to obtain his associates degree in computer science from Brown Technical College. He graduated in 2002 and then worked as a field technician for IBM, Xcel Energy, and the Federal Air Marshalls. He retired from his work in 2015. When Laura retired in 2018, they decided to move from their home in Lake Elmo to their cabin on Knife Lake full time.

Everyone who knows Brian knows that he always ran on premium gas along with his mini bikes, motorcycles, and classic muscle cars. He spent a lot of time working on and rebuilding numerous cars including his brother Mike’s Nova. His current project was a 1975 Gremlin. His pride and joy was his 1971 Chevelle SS. He loved to “putz” around his garage and around the yard. He spent a lot of time vacationing to Florida with Laura, going on cruises, and listening to Jimmy Buffett. He and Laura also loved to host family get-togethers at their home in Lake Elmo. Most had a theme and a special unexpected addition that was a work of art many weeks in the making.

Family, friends, and neighbors could always depend on Brian. He was always willing to help with projects, lend a tool, or troubleshoot computer issues. He was very creative and kind, had a great sense of humor, and was a loving husband, wonderful father, brother, and friend, and a fantastic “Pappasan”.

Brian was preceded in death by his parents Lorraine Briggs and William Rafftery, and step-parents Rollie Briggs and Phyllis Rafftery. He is survived by his wife Laura, his children Carrie (Travis) Brittain of River Falls, WI and Chrissie Briggs of Star Prairie, WI, and their mother Colleen (Hanson) Briggs of St. Paul, MN. He is also survived by five grandchildren: Matthew, Adelyn, Jacob, Stella, and Amelia; his siblings Terrance Rafftery, Dennis (Lora) Rafftery, Carol Kruse, Mike (Marianne) Briggs and many more relatives and friends.

He will be greatly missed and forever remembered.

Friends and family are invited to celebrate Brian’s life at Bradshaw Funeral Home in Stillwater, Minnesota on Friday, August 28th. A visitation will begin at 4pm, followed by a celebration of life service at 5:00. A reception will follow. Please wear your favorite tropical shirts.