Veteran services at West Kjos Funeral Home & Cremation Services
West Kjos Funeral Home & Cremation Services serves veteran families in Detroit Lakes, MN with military funeral planning. In their own words: "West-Kjos Funeral Home offers specific services for honoring veterans, including assistance with veteran benefits and dedicated tribute pages for deceased veterans on their website. They recognize the importance of acknowledging military service." On-site amenities include chapel and reception hall, suited to flag presentation and honors ceremonies. Published pricing lists $3,595 for basic burial and $3,295 for direct cremation. Veterans may qualify for county or federal allowances toward these costs.
Veteran-related services offered include honoring veterans, cremation, traditional burial, memorial service, and burial. Each service is coordinated with the family and, where applicable, with the deceased's last unit or branch honor detail.
On-site facilities of note include chapel. These spaces accommodate full military honors details, family gatherings before and after the service, and the placement of the United States flag during the visitation period.
Published pricing at West Kjos Funeral Home & Cremation Services: direct cremation from $5,090. That places direct cremation roughly 77% above the Minnesota median ($2,877). Veterans who served on active duty for at least 24 months may qualify for VA burial allowance to offset funeral costs — this home accepts assignment of those benefits where eligible.
The nearest VA national cemetery is Fargo National Cemetery in ND, approximately 52 miles from West Kjos Funeral Home & Cremation Services. West Kjos Funeral Home & Cremation Services can coordinate transport, scheduling with the cemetery's interment office, and the timing of military honors with the receiving committal shelter.
Minnesota has approximately 567 licensed funeral homes serving its population, of which a subset specifically lists military funeral honors and VA benefits assistance among their services. West Kjos Funeral Home & Cremation Services is among them.
Frequently asked questions
What does a funeral at West Kjos Funeral Home & Cremation Services cost for veteran families?
From its published general price list, direct cremation starts at $5,090. Eligible veterans can offset these costs with a VA burial allowance, and burial in a VA national cemetery is provided at no charge.
Where is West Kjos Funeral Home & Cremation Services located, and can it coordinate a veterans cemetery burial?
West Kjos Funeral Home & Cremation Services is located at 900 Summit Ave. in Detroit Lakes, MN. You can reach the home at (218) 847-7279. Staff can coordinate burial with nearby VA national and state veterans cemeteries.
What services does West Kjos Funeral Home & Cremation Services offer veteran families?
West Kjos Funeral Home & Cremation Services provides personalized service, preplanning, immediate need, grief support, away from home assurance, and can arrange military funeral honors for eligible veterans.
Does West Kjos Funeral Home & Cremation Services help veterans with VA burial benefits?
West-Kjos Funeral Home offers specific services for honoring veterans, including assistance with veteran benefits and dedicated tribute pages for deceased veterans on their website. They recognize the importance of acknowledging military service.
Which faith traditions does West Kjos Funeral Home & Cremation Services accommodate?
Staff coordinate services for Roman Catholic, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod (LCMS), Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS), Vineyard (Christian) families, among others.
What sets West Kjos Funeral Home & Cremation Services apart
- Comprehensive grief support programs including "Everything After" for administrative tasks and "Brighter Mornings" for emotional healing, offering therapist-created courses and online support groups.
- Dedicated Aftercare Coordinator, Mary Swenson, who leads various grief support gatherings and seminars like "The Caring Cup," "Loss of a Spouse Seminar," and "Surviving The Holidays Seminar."
- Specialization in honoring veterans, with a dedicated section on their website featuring veteran obituaries and resources.
- Emphasis on preplanning services, including an Advance Funeral Planner, to alleviate burdens on families.
- Offering livestreaming of services for remote participation and recorded videos for later viewing.
Military & veteran services offered
Burial & cremation services
Burial
- · Traditional Burial
- · Burial
Cremation
- · Cremation
- · Inurnment
On-site facilities
Affiliations & specializations
Specializations
- · Honoring Veterans
- · Grief Support
- · Preplanning
- · Away From Home Assurance
Religious traditions & languages
Religious traditions accommodated: Roman Catholic, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod (LCMS), Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS), Vineyard (Christian).
EverSettled · After the Veteran Funeral
The veteran's spouse may qualify for VA Dependency & Indemnity Compensation.
DIC is a tax-free monthly benefit for surviving spouses, dependent children, and (in some cases) parents of veterans whose death is service-connected. EverSettled walks veteran families through DIC eligibility, survivor pension, life-insurance claims, probate, and the federal-account paperwork that follows.
Begin Veteran Estate SettlementHow honors are coordinated
Military funeral honors are guaranteed at no cost for any veteran discharged under conditions other than dishonorable. The funeral home arranges the honors detail by contacting the deceased's last unit or the nearest active-duty installation of the appropriate branch and submitting the DD-214 to verify eligibility.
For requests less than 72 hours from service time, families can call the Department of Defense's expedited honors line at 1-877-MIL-HONR (1-877-645-4667). See the full honors protocol.