St. Peter, Minnesota - Bruce was born on October 13, 1936 in Sauk Centre, Minnesota, and passed away on February 25, 2026. He spent his childhood in Sauk Centre where he graduated from high school in 1954. After high school, Bruce enlisted in the United States Coast Guard and served for four years at Woods Hole, Massachusetts. It was while he was in the Coast Guard that Bruce met his wife of 67 years, Susanne LeClair.

Bruce and Sue moved to St. Peter, Minnesota in 1957 where Bruce attended Gustavus Adolphus College, and they raised their two daughters, Kim and Kristen. After graduation, Bruce worked at the St. Peter Security Hospital while also pursuing a master's degree in counseling at Mankato State University. Bruce worked at Gustavus as an Admissions counselor and later served as Director of Financial Aid, Dean of Students, and lastly as a Senior Development Officer. Bruce researched and wrote Black and Bold, a history of African-American students at Gustavus Adolphus College. Being Dean of Students, and working with students on the difficult questions of life, was his favorite assignment at Gustavus. He retired in 2008 after 45 years of employment. Bruce and Sue received the Greater Gustavus Award in 2013 for their faithful service to the college.

Bruce believed in giving back to the community and served on numerous boards, including St. Peter and Minnesota State School Board, St. Peter Community Hospital Commission, Mayo Clinic's Mankato Health Care Foundation, Dollars For Scholars National Advisory Board, Blandon Foundation's St. Peter Leadership in ethnically diverse communities, and more.

Bruce loved to sing; church choir, men's choir, barbershop quartets, and barbershop chorus. He sang in 5 quartets and 3 choruses, performing around the midwest, competing and winning at International competition multiple times. His love of basketball moved from playing the game, to refereeing for 18 years. Bruce said, "Funny, we never made a bad call, but there were those who thought we did." He was an avid golfer with 3 hole-in-one trophies to prove his ability, or really good luck depending on who you asked. Bruce's favorite hobby was cheering on the Golden Gusties through every season of his life and across all sports; football and basketball were his favorites.

Bruce loved to read a good political thriller or mystery. He and Sue attended theatre productions of all kinds. He was thrilled to have been in MSU's production of The Music Man with Magic as the quartet. Dogs and horses were also special to Bruce.

Bruce lived out his values. He believed in giving back to the community through giving of both his time and resources. Bruce referred to First Lutheran Church as the heart of his life and community. He was a lifelong learner and ever curious about the world and the people around him. He and Sue traveled to 16 countries and all 50 states. Bruce was proud to be the only person to attend every Gustavus Nobel Conference from 1965 to 2025. And despite many health challenges, he always had a positive spirit.

Bruce was preceded in death by his parents; Harold and Ella Gray, and step-father Matthew Bendel, and Susanne LeClair, his beloved wife. Bruce is survived by his daughters Kim (Steve) Alinder, and Kristen (David DeBlock) Gray; granddaughters Emily (Stephen) Flynn, and Laura (Andy) McGuire; great grandchildren Sebastian, Miranda, Jameson and Charlotte Grayce; sister Joy Sanderson, and sister-in-law Jane Johnson.

Celebration of Life will be held at First Lutheran Church in St. Peter later in the spring, with the inurnment of ashes at that time. Donations may be made to the First Lutheran Church of St. Peter, or the Bruce and Sue Gray Diversity Scholarship at Gustavus Adolphus College. www.saintpeterfuneralhome.com