Tom joined his father in the family business in 1969 after completing his studies in Mortuary Science at the University of Minnesota, and now serves as the representative of the third generation of Joseph Vertin & Sons. Tom’s personal philosophy is based on the funeral service experience he heard about as a child, from his funeral director grandfather and in working side-by-side with his funeral director father.

Hugh Mikkelson
Licensed Funeral Director/Manager

Hugh grew up across the street from the local funeral director and his family, in Breckenridge. Because Joe Vertin was a family friend, Hugh observed the work that Joe did in the community and the compassion he had for each family that he served. Hugh soon developed an admiration for Joe that led him into funeral service. Following high school, Hugh served four years in the United States Navy, aboard an aircraft carrier off coast of Vietnam. Hugh then returned to Breckenridge to begin his education in a small two year college. He later transferred to the University of Minnesota, where he completed his funeral service education.

In January of 1971, Hugh returned to Breckenridge and joined the staff of Joseph Vertin & Sons Funeral Home, working for Joe Vertin, and his high school classmate, Tom Vertin.

Today, Hugh manages the funeral home, and strives to serve each family as if they were his own. He strives to take care of each personal detail, regardless of the type of service a family chooses for their loved one. Hugh goes above and beyond to provide each family that he serves, the opportunity to personalize their loved ones service, and to make the service a reflection of their loved one's life.

Hugh enjoys the flexibility and diversification of working at the funeral home, as it allows him to work in serve others in two separate areas. One is being a part of a long standing Ambulance Service that serves the Wahpeton/Breckenridge area, and also assisting families with marker/monument selection. Assisting families in designing and personalizing their cemetery markers gives Hugh a great sense of satisfaction. Being able to provide this one extra service, assures Hugh that each family is allowed the opportunity to make every decision on their own, without a sales pressure.

In his personal time, Hugh enjoys riding his motorcycle with his high school friend, and other motorcycle enthusiasts. His greatest joy is following his four grandsons and their sporting events.

Doyle Gylten
Licensed Funeral Director

Doyle has been with Joseph Vertin & Sons Funeral Home since 1982. He graduated from Northwood High School in Northwood, North Dakota in 1977. Doyle attended the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, North Dakota for three years, continuing his education at Worsham College of Mortuary Science, in Chicago, Illinois. He graduated in 1981, and worked in Ada and Fertile, Minnesota for one year, before moving to Breckenridge.

Doyle has also involved with the Ambulance Service in Breckenridge, since 1982. Doyle and his wife Mary live in Breckenridge where Mary is a Registered Nurse at St. Francis Medical Center. They have three daughters, Jill, Cindy, and Amy, and two grandchildren, Austin and Cassandra.

Aside from helping families at the funeral home, Doyle enjoys spending his time with family, especially his two grandchildren. In his personal time, Doyle does woodworking, some of which can be found throughout the funeral home, and he also enjoys exercising at the local gym.

Ann Deal
Pre-arrangement Advisor and Office Manager

Ann has been the Office Manager and Pre-arrangement Advisor with Joseph Vertin and Sons Funeral Home since 1997. A Breckenridge native, Ann graduated from Breckenridge High School, and later from Alexandria Technical College. She lives in Breckenridge with her husband, Dan, who farms in the area. Together they have three grown daughters: Sally, Carolyn and Alicia. Ann is the daughter of John and Marge Lommel of Herman, Minnesota.

After joining the staff at the funeral home, Ann discovered an important need in assisting families who wish to make their funeral plans before the time of need. Ann holds a license to provide life insurance, which helps her in serving families who wish to pre-arrange their funerals.

Ann's work experience in Breckenridge has included customer service in the banking industry. She is very dedicated to the families she serves with pre-planning, as well as she is dedicated to serving families at the time of need to ensure that all of their needs are considered and met.

Ann is an active member of St. Mary's Church in Breckenridge, the Breckenridge Rotary Club, and Richland-Wilkin Aging Coalition. In her personal time, she enjoys spending time with her family.

Leah O'Leary
Funeral Assistant

Leah has been with Joseph Vertin & Sons for seventeen years and has served in various roles throughout her career with the Vertin family. Early on, she assumed the role of Office Manager for the funeral home and ambulance service and also served as an Emergency Medical Technician. More recently, she assists the funeral directors during visitations and funeral services.

If you were to ask Leah why she is devoted to her work in funeral service, she would tell you that one of the greatest rewards of working in funeral service is being able to help families through some of the hardest days of their lives. Leah states, "To be able to help a family say goodbye to a loved one is a true honor and a very humbling experience".

A graduate of Ashley High School and the North Dakota State College of Science, Leah and her husband, Shawn, live in Wahpeton, North Dakota with their two children, Corey and Kellie. Leah is an active member of St. John's Catholic Church in Wahpeton, Zonta International, Breckenridge Bookmarkers, and is also a member of the Community Emergency Response Team.

Jeanne Putnam
Aftercare Coordinator/Grief Recovery Specialist

Jeanne has been the Aftercare Coordinator at Joseph Vertin & Sons Funeral Home since February 1999. She recently earned her certification as a Grief Recovery Specialist from the Grief Recovery Institute of California.

She has continued learning about the topic of grief in several other ways, including; participation in the HFA National Teleconference, “Living with Grief: Children, Adolescents and Loss” sponsored by Riveredge Hospice of St. Francis Medical Center, attending seminars sponsored by Bereavement Services, attending a seminar entitled “Children of Trauma”, and attending Alan Wolfelt’s seminar “Creating Exceptional Funeral Experiences for Today’s Families.”

Through phone calls or personal visits, Jeanne offers support to families following a loved one’s death and provides support materials as needed. Jeanne also leads seminars, and facilitates a grief support group in the area. Some of the materials she provides are the Everlasting Memories Photo, the Batesville “Living Tree Memorial” information, the “Lift up Thine Eyes,” the Doug Manning “Continuing Care Series,” and the Family Guidebook.
Jeanne says; "The work of grief is one of the hardest tasks a person has to do---so when a family is faced with a death, I try to help them discover that there is "life" after a loss---a changed life, but "life" nevertheless."

Jeanne has served as Secretary/Pastoral Assistant at St. Gall's Church in Tintah, for the past 26 years, where she is an active member. She is a volunteer with Riveredge Hospice, and is a First Responder with the Tintah Fire and Rescue. Jeanne and her husband Jim farm near Tintah, Minnesota, and have five children, three grown and two still at home. In her personal time, Jeanne enjoys working with stain glass and flowering gardening.