He was a born and raised in Perham, Minnesota and went to grade school just 1/2 mile from home in Star Lake Township. Bruce attended and graduated from the Pelican Rapides High School. He had his own construction company for many years, then worked for Saber Construction before he began working for Target Stores. He had been a resident of Panama City Beach, Florida for the last 20 years, moving from Georgia. Bruce enjoyed fishing and hunting, attending NASCAR races with his wife, and loved cooking for family and friends.
Survivors include his wife of 32 years, Beverly Collins of Panama City Beach, Florida; his daughters, Loralee Buelow and husband, Robert of Grand Forks, North Dakota, Brenda Carpenter and husband, Keith of Eden Prairie, Minnesota, and Becky Dietrich and husband, John Thomas of Chandler, Arizona; his sisters, Bonnie Norgren, Betty O'Bright, and Barb Nelson; and six grandchildren, Kielan, Magdelyn, and Isabella Dietrich, Lauren Carpenter, and Carter and Marshal Buelow. He is preceded in death by an infant daughter, Jody Lynn Collins; his parents, Harold and Marion Collins; his brother, Robert Collins; and his brothers-in-law, Roger Nelson and Robert O'Bright.
Cremation arrangements were entrusted to Hixson-Sulphur Memorial Funeral Home. Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.hixsonfuneralhomes.com.