Our Staff 

Daniel Delmore

Owner / Funeral Director

Dan was raised in St. Louis Park and attended Most Holy Trinity Catholic grade school, which was located next door to the Park Chapel. He graduated from Benilde High School and The University of Minnesota Department of Mortuary Science in 1976. He began at that time working for his dad, Bob. Dan started running the funeral home in the mid 1990's when his father retired.

Dan has been active in a variety of civic organizations over the years, including the Optimists, Rotary, Chambers of Commerce, and community festivals. He has been involved with a number of parishes and Archdiocesan organizations. Dan, wife Mary and children Hugh and Clare are active members of The Church of St. Bartholomew in Wayzata.

Telephone: 1-763-537-4511

Email: 

Al Blau

Funeral Director

Al was born and raised in a small farming community in northwest Iowa before moving to the twin cities in the late 1970s. He graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1980. He has lived in North Minneapolis and has worked at Gearty-Delmore for over 40 years. He likes the small-town feel of Robbinsdale and enjoys visiting with the local merchants and citizens of the community. He enjoys travelling, and for many years stayed active by running, playing basketball, and playing on many softball teams in Robbinsdale and the surrounding suburbs. Al and his wife Julie are members of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Brooklyn Park and reside in North Minneapolis. They have three daughters, Allie, Emy, and Angie.

Telephone: 1-763-537-4511

Scott Benson

Funeral Director

Scott was raised in Worthington, MN. He graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1989 with a degree in Mortuary Science. He began working for Gearty-Delmore Funeral Chapels, INC while attending the University of Minnesota and upon graduation began his career as a Funeral Director. He is a Minnesota licensed funeral director and Minnesota licensed insurance agent. Scott lives in Maple Grove with his wife, Lori and sons, Alex and Zach. He is a member of Lord of Life Lutheran Church. He enjoys golf, fishing and hunting as well as many activities with his family.

Telephone: 1-763-537-4511

Email: 

John Carlson

Funeral Director

John was born and raised in Green Bay, WI and graduated from Ashwaubenon High School in 1987. In 1991, he graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in Mortuary Science. John began his career with Gearty-Delmore Funeral Chapels, INC as a student in 1990 and has remained as a funeral director ever since. He and his wife, Lexi, have two sons, Owen and Brady, and reside in Chanhassen, MN. He enjoys watching and attending sporting events and spending time with his family.

Telephone: 1-763-537-4511

Email: 

Ken Coutts

Funeral Director

Ken has been a licensed funeral director with Gearty-Delmore since 1994. He has a B.S. in Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and a B.S. in Mortuary Science from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. He enjoys hunting, camping, water and snow skiing, as well as target, trap and skeet shooting. Ken is involved with the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts of America, serving as a merit badge counselor for the Northern Lights District, Committee Member of Pack 442 chartered at Sacred Heart Church, Robbinsdale and a Committee Member of Troop 534 chartered at House of Hope Lutheran Church, New Hope.

Telephone: 1-763-537-4511

Email: 

Carrie Lee Erickson

Funeral Director

Carrie Lee Erickson has been a funeral director for over 35 years, and with Gearty-Delmore since 2010. She’s a graduate of Wayzata High School, Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, and the University of Minnesota with a degree in Mortuary Science.

Carrie’s appreciation for her job grows with each passing year. “I cannot envision myself doing anything else,” she says. “I love what I’m doing. I grew up with a mortician for a father and learned to appreciate this work from a young age. Every day feels like a gift.”

In 1990 Carrie’s father died young, which gave her firsthand experience with the grief journey that families walk. She believes it is a true privilege to be invited in to become a small part of their journey.

A lifelong resident of the western suburbs, Carrie has been active in a variety of local civic organizations including Rotary, Interfaith Outreach and Wayzata Youth Hockey.

She is proud of her big, beautiful, blended family: husband Ed; children Mason and Dillon Starry; Ed’s children Matt, Steve, and Julie, and their amazing families. In her free time, Carrie enjoys activities with her friends and family, relaxing at their lake home ‘up north’, golfing, playing hockey (basically everything outdoors!) and her church home of St. Philip the Deacon Lutheran Church.

Telephone: 1-763-537-4511

Email: 

Brad Fenske

Funeral Director

Brad graduated from the University of MN Mortuary Science program in 1998 and joined Gearty-Delmore shortly thereafter. In his spare time, Brad enjoys sports, exercising, movies, concerts and the occasional vacation.

Telephone: 1-763-537-4511

Email: 

Mike Lyons

Funeral Director

Mike was born and raised in west-central Wisconsin and graduated from the University of Minnesota's Mortuary Science Program in 1987. He joined the staff of Gearty Delmore in the summer of 2005. In addition to being a Minnesota licensed funeral director, Mike also holds licensure as a funeral director in the state of Wisconsin. Mike lives in Edina with wife Chris and their two children Nicole and Mike. A member of Our Lady of Grace in Edina, he has been active in the Faith Formation Program for over ten years. In addition to enjoying all family-related activities, Mike also enjoys the outdoors and participating in /attending sporting events.

Telephone: 1-763-537-4511

Email: 

Jessi Rinne

Funeral /Pre-Planning Specialist

Jessi, a 1998 graduate of Delano High School and 2003 graduate of the University of Minnesota, is a licensed funeral director, a certified preplanning consultant and licensed in insurance.  She worked as a student at Gearty-Delmore prior to becoming has been a director 2003.  Jessi transitioned into the role of Preplanning Specialist and began her passionate work helping families plan in advance for one of life's most difficult times. Jessi enjoys working with families as they invite her into their lives by sharing stories to aid in creating a meaningful tribute to a life well lived.

Outside of the funeral home, Jessi enjoys gardening, hiking, and traveling;  She is diligently working toward visiting all of our US National Parks. Jessi lives in Buffalo with her husband, Scott.

Telephone: 1-763-553-1411

Email: 

Kathy O'Keefe

Office Administration

Kathy has been with Gearty-Delmore since 1982. She was the first employee hired for St. Louis Park when the company purchased the Park Chapel. She began in a part-time capacity and now is the bookkeeper and business manager. She is often the person people deal with at the funeral home for paperwork and filings.

Kathy is a native of LeCenter, MN. Her husband Tim is also from LeCenter and they have three sons, Brian, Brent and Kelly. Kathy is active in her parish, St. Hubert's of Chanhassen. The O'Keefe's like to travel, ski and spend time with their family.

Telephone: 1-763-537-4511

Joyce Beattie

Office Assistant/Receptionist

Joyce was born and raised in a small farming community in northwestern Minnesota where she raised four children and is blessed with four grandchildren. She worked for 35 years for State Farm Insurance before life changes brought her to the Twin Cities and a major career change in 2011. She loves to help families and after selling life insurance for many years she now sees the other side of the spectrum; the benefit of having insurance and the peace of mind it brings to families who have lost a family member.

Joyce is a member of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church where she is involved in Bible Study, Lutheran Women Missionary League and Eucharist Minister. She enjoys her part-time work schedule which allows more time for family and her hobbies; reading, scrapbooking and walking. She lives with her high school sweetheart, Jeffrey, in Maple Grove where they enjoy outdoor summer concerts, going to the movies, restaurants and the many walking trails.

Sheila Thelemann

Office Assistant/Receptionist

Sheila Delmore Thelemann joined Gearty-Delmore as an office support staff member in October of 2022 after serving in various marketing and public relations roles in the Twin Cities for more than 30 years. As the youngest of Bob Delmore’s four children growing up in St. Louis Park, Sheila learned about the business around the family dinner table. She says that the family business has always been in her heart and is now enjoying helping families and learning more about the operation as the business now has a place in her head as well!

Sheila and her husband John live in Bloomington, MN, where they raised their four children, Rob, Gina, Taylor and Connor. Today, Sheila and John enjoy spending time with their adult kids, their spouses/significant others and two little grandchildren. In her free time, Sheila enjoys experimenting with interior decorating and furniture rearrangement (a creative practice she learned from her dad), reading, journaling and playing with the family’s two miniature dachsunds. With their kids now raised, Sheila and John look forward to doing some traveling in the future.

Jen Arndt

Office Assistant/Receptionist