Michael Ray Brink, 59, of Soldotna, Alaska, formerly of Grand Rapids, MN, passed away peacefully in his sleep surrounded by family on Friday, April 30, 2010 in the Minneapolis Veterans Medical Center. He fought a courageous battle with cancer for nearly two years. Michael grew up in the Grand Rapids/Deer River area where he worked on his grandfather's dairy farm. He graduated from Grand Rapids High School in 1968. Mike proudly served in the U.S. Navy from 1969 to 1972. He was a Vietnam War veteran having served as a diesel mechanic / engineman on the USS Garrett County LST and the USS Askari. He married Sonya Allison on September 1, 1990. He worked as a crane and heavy equipment operator throughout the years, and was a member of several different unions including Operating Engineers (in Minnesota and Alaska), 49'ers, Teamsters and the Laborers. He also worked for the family business, Brink Sand and Gravel, Casper Construction, Murphy Brothers Construction. Mike moved to Alaska in 2001 and back to Minnesota in 2008. Mike loved his wife and children. He enjoyed horses, his Harley Davidson, the outdoors, fishing, gambling, music, hunting, and spending time at Leech with family and friends. He especially loved the years he spent in Alaska's beauty. Mike was preceded in death by his parents, Gene and Gloria, and a brother, Charles. Survivors include his wife, Sonya; children Cody and Sonia, both of Soldotna, Alaska; sisters and brothers, Peggy (David) Bishop, Ronald (Carol) Brink, and Marty (Angela) Brink, all of Grand Rapids, Laura (Ronald) Maksymkow, Savage, MN, and Bradley (Diane) Brink, Riverton, WY; sister-in-law Pat Brink of Iowa; and numerous nieces and nephews. He is also survived by Sonya's parents, Whitey and Doris Allison of Cohasset; brothers and sisters, Steven Allison of Cohasset, David Allison, Deer River, Charlene Allison (John Chatley) of Cohasset, and Darrell Allison of Cohasset; nieces and nephews, Christopher Doty, Trinity McNeil, Mandy Petz, and Shannon Reed; and great nieces and great nephews, Gage, Luken, Lennie, Tee Jae, Brittney, and Bradley. Visitation is 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 6 in the Community Bible Chapel in Cohasset, and continues from 10 until the 11 a.m. Memorial Service on Friday May 7 in the Community Bible Chapel.