Kristie Tweeton Hodge

Kristie Tweeton Hodge, of Barnesville, Minnesota, passed away unexpectedly at the age of 66. Though her leaving was far too soon, the life she lived was full and generous.

A private burial with military honors will be held. A Celebration of Life will follow on Saturday September 12, 2026. Details are pending and will be posted as soon as they become available. In lieu of flowers, the family simply asks for your presence, come share a story, a laugh, and help celebrate the life of a woman who always kept her door open.

Kristie was born on June 5, 1960, to John and Carol (Berg) Tweeton. A proud Midwesterner, she graduated from Barnesville High School in 1978. In 1979, she answered the call to serve her country, joining the United States Navy, where she rose to the rank of E5 Petty Officer. Over five years of service, she was stationed in Gulfport, Mississippi, and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, before her honorable discharge in 1984. Her service instilled in her a strength, independence, and quiet resolve that would define her for the rest of her life.

In 1984, Kristie married Bruce Hodge, and together they welcomed two children, Jonathan and Jennifer. The family lived in New York until 1993, when Kristie returned home to Barnesville, the place her heart always belonged. A hard worker, she spent over 20 years at Reile's Transfer in Fargo, later worked at Dean’s Bulk Service until she retired in 2024.

Kristie was, above all, a fiercely devoted mother who would do anything for her children. As the oldest of five, she was a loyal sister and a rock for her siblings. For years, hers was the house, the gathering spot where friends and family knew they were always welcome. Countless evenings were spent around the backyard fire, telling stories and cracking jokes late into the night. She had a gift for making people feel at home.

An independent woman with endless energy, Kristie always seemed to have a project in the works. She fussed lovingly over her flowers and gardens each spring and summer, took pride in her yard, and kept a running list of house projects, it seemed there was always a fresh coat of a new paint color on the walls. She also loved reading, family get-togethers, and lazy summer days wading at the lake.

But nothing lit up her life quite like her four grandchildren. Being a grandmother was her greatest joy. She delighted in making them laugh, reading them stories, and simply soaking up every moment in their company.

Kristie was preceded in death by her parents, John and Carol Tweeton and her close friend Denise Mary Miller. She is survived by her children, Jonathan (Erin) Hodge and Jennifer (Nate) Phillips; her four cherished grandchildren, Easton, Harrison, Taytum and Fletcher; sisters Karen (Dan) Fankhanel, Kelly (Tom) Poppel and Kori Krause, and brother Kyle (Ann) Tweeton; and many nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews.

Kristie's warmth and her humor will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.