A FAMILY AFFAIR

If you ever have the need to contact the Brick Meger Funeral Home in Owatonna or the Medford Funeral Home, it’s likely you’ll be dealing with one of a trio of Megers. It could be owner Glen Meger, his son Mike Meger or beginning this month his youngest son, Brett Meger.
Brett Meger returned to Steele County beginning Oct. 1 to join the family funeral home business as a funeral director. Brett has been around the funeral home for most of his life as he was just 7 years old when his father, Glen, purchased the operation in 2000.
“It’s all I have known,” Brett says. “Funeral service seemed very normal to me.”
While Brett has always had an inside look at the Meger way and how his family operates the funeral home, his father had one requirement before any of his kids could join him. Glen required both of them to go to college and work elsewhere at other funeral homes before coming back home.
For Brett that meant working at three different funeral homes in Bemidji, Robbinsdale and Red Wing. He mostly worked at those funeral homes while attending Bemidji State University and later the University of Minnesota in the Twin Cities where he received his mortuary science degree.
“My dad told me about the importance of going somewhere else to get out of my comfort zone,” said Brett. “I’m glad he did that because it forced me to learn things in another setting.”
He even worked full time while carrying a full load at college. Brett calls learning from real experience so much better than any text book can ever prepare one for. “You can’t put a dollar amount on real world experience,” he said.
Brett now finds himself back home in Owatonna in unique company. Of the 5,000 funeral homes in Minnesota, Brett estimates less than 75 feature a father and two sons. “It’s very uncommon to have a funeral home with a dad and two sons,” Brett said, noting his brother Mike came back seven years ago.
Coming back home to work with his father has always been Brett’s plan. After serving at larger funeral homes owned by bigger companies, Brett likes the family environment that his family offers. “Your every day environment is like a family here,” he said. “It’s very mom and pa like.”
Working in Owatonna also appeals to Brett for another reason. “I really like the community of Owatonna and its size,” he said. “Serving families that I grew up with is more important than anything else. It makes my job easier when I can work with people I know and help,” he added.
Brett also wants to give back to the community that supported him growing up. He attended St. Mary’s School and later Owatonna High School where he graduated in 2011. “Owatonna is a really strong community that gives back,” he said.
Not surprisingly, Brett credits his dad for leading him into the funeral business. “I’m not sure that I would be a funeral director if it wasn’t for my dad,” he said. He added he has always admired how his dad has handled people.
“We take pride in meeting people where they are at in their life,” Brett said. “We try to listen the best we can and ask questions along the way.”
The Megers focus on putting the needs of the family they are working with first. Brett said there is no cookie cutter funeral as funerals have changed significantly in recent years. While there are fewer church services today, the Megers offer a comfortable space at the funeral home for families to honor their loved ones. “This is their home for the day, a safe place to come,” he said.
Even though he has attained his funeral director license, Brett says the learning hasn’t stopped. “I’m still very much learning every day and taking advice from my dad and brother,” he said. “I’m trying to get better,” he added.
Brett said it’s good to be back home. As for teaming up in the family business, Brett says, “It makes all the hard work I have done over the past five years worth it. I’m excited to work with my dad and brother and look forward to serving families in Steele County.”