A man from Merrifield, in central Minnesota, was killed last week when he lost control of his snowmobile and crashed into a tree on his property.

Authorities responded to the 1100 block of Half Moon Drive last Friday on a report of a personal injury crash involving a single snowmobile. Richard D. Rathman, 49, was driving a snowmobile on his land when he crashed into a tree. He was not wearing a helmet, police said.

Rathman was airlifted to North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale, where he died the next day of head injuries. The Crow Wing County Sheriff's Office is investigating.

Rathman's funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at St. Francis Catholic Church in Brainerd.

LIZ SAWYER