1929
Russell
2011
Russell Vikesland
May 22, 1929 — November 1, 2011
Russell E. "Russ" Vikesland, age 82, of Frazee, MN, passed away peacefully, Tuesday, November 1, 2011, at his home in Frazee, with his family at his side, under the care of Hospice of the Red River Valley.
Funeral mass will be held 11 a.m. Friday, November 4, 2011, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Frazee. Interment will be made in the Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery. Lunch will be hosted at the Frazee Event Center following the service for all to attend. Visitation will be held from 5-8 p.m. Thursday, November 3, 2011, at Furey Funeral Home in Frazee with a rosary at 6:30 p.m. and prayer service to immediately follow. Visitation will also be held one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday. Furey Funeral Home is assisting the family with funeral arrangements.
Russ was born May 22, 1929, to Eddie and Ragna (Skavhaug) Vikesland in Elbow Lake, MN. He was raised on a farm in St. Olaf Township, near Dalton, MN, and attended country school there. Russ graduated from Fergus Falls High School in 1947. He was a Korean War Veteran proudly serving in the United States Army from 1948 to 1951.
On June 1, 1955, he married Virginia Sumerfelt in Taunton, MN. They lived in Fergus Falls, MN, where he was employed by Otter Tail Power Company. The family moved to Perham, MN, in 1960, and in 1961, moved to Frazee where Russ continued working for Otter Tail Power Company as a service representative for the Frazee-Vergas area. He retired in 1991.
His interests were family and his community. Over the years, Russ was an active member of the community, having served on the Frazee-Vergas School Board for 3 terms, was president of the Frazee Community Club for 1 term and served as secretary for several terms, was secretary of the Frazee-Burlington-Silver Leaf Joint Powers Board, had been active in cub scouts and boy scouts, helped with the organization of the Frazee Area Action Fund and was also a former member of the Vergas Lions and Vergas Commercial Club, served on the Frazee Fire Department for 26 years with 17 years as chief. He also was a city councilman and mayor from 1993-1999. He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church where he had served as trustee and also served several terms on church council and was a charter member of Knights of Columbus.
Russell is survived by his wife, Virginia of Frazee; 3 children: Teresa (David) Thompson of Fergus Falls, MN, Deanna Carr of Detroit Lakes, MN, and Rollie (Rose) Vikesland of Winona, MN; son-in-law, Bill Carr of Frazee, MN; 6 grandchildren: Jonathan Thompson, Megan (Dereck) Houge, Cary Carr, Heather (Caleb) Hoag, Stephanie Carr and Courtney Carr; 5 great grandchildren: Fayden & Lyric Carr, Faith Laduceur, and Hadley & Jack Hoag; and 1 brother, Joel Vikesland of Blaine, MN; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Dorothy Madson.
Funeral mass will be held 11 a.m. Friday, November 4, 2011, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Frazee. Interment will be made in the Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery. Lunch will be hosted at the Frazee Event Center following the service for all to attend. Visitation will be held from 5-8 p.m. Thursday, November 3, 2011, at Furey Funeral Home in Frazee with a rosary at 6:30 p.m. and prayer service to immediately follow. Visitation will also be held one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday. Furey Funeral Home is assisting the family with funeral arrangements.
Russ was born May 22, 1929, to Eddie and Ragna (Skavhaug) Vikesland in Elbow Lake, MN. He was raised on a farm in St. Olaf Township, near Dalton, MN, and attended country school there. Russ graduated from Fergus Falls High School in 1947. He was a Korean War Veteran proudly serving in the United States Army from 1948 to 1951.
On June 1, 1955, he married Virginia Sumerfelt in Taunton, MN. They lived in Fergus Falls, MN, where he was employed by Otter Tail Power Company. The family moved to Perham, MN, in 1960, and in 1961, moved to Frazee where Russ continued working for Otter Tail Power Company as a service representative for the Frazee-Vergas area. He retired in 1991.
His interests were family and his community. Over the years, Russ was an active member of the community, having served on the Frazee-Vergas School Board for 3 terms, was president of the Frazee Community Club for 1 term and served as secretary for several terms, was secretary of the Frazee-Burlington-Silver Leaf Joint Powers Board, had been active in cub scouts and boy scouts, helped with the organization of the Frazee Area Action Fund and was also a former member of the Vergas Lions and Vergas Commercial Club, served on the Frazee Fire Department for 26 years with 17 years as chief. He also was a city councilman and mayor from 1993-1999. He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church where he had served as trustee and also served several terms on church council and was a charter member of Knights of Columbus.
Russell is survived by his wife, Virginia of Frazee; 3 children: Teresa (David) Thompson of Fergus Falls, MN, Deanna Carr of Detroit Lakes, MN, and Rollie (Rose) Vikesland of Winona, MN; son-in-law, Bill Carr of Frazee, MN; 6 grandchildren: Jonathan Thompson, Megan (Dereck) Houge, Cary Carr, Heather (Caleb) Hoag, Stephanie Carr and Courtney Carr; 5 great grandchildren: Fayden & Lyric Carr, Faith Laduceur, and Hadley & Jack Hoag; and 1 brother, Joel Vikesland of Blaine, MN; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Dorothy Madson.
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