Russell Duane Erickstad

Russell D. Erickstad, 79 of Garske, ND died on Sunday, December 27th, 2009 at the Good Samaritan Center, Devils Lake, ND. Funeral Services for Russell will be held on Wednesday, December 30, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. at Trinity-Bergen Lutheran Church, Starkweather, ND. Rev. Robert Buechler will officiate and burial will be in the Trinity-Bergen Lutheran Cemetery in the spring. Military Honors will be accorded by the Neathery-Simensen Post #756, Devils Lake Veterans of Foreign Wars and the North Dakota Military Funeral Honors Team. Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Tuesday from 2:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Visitation on Wednesday will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral service. Serving as Casket Bearers for Russell will be Steve Lyson, Dan Erickstad, David Erickstad, Mark Erickstad, Gary Erickstad and Cass Brekhus. Honorary Bearers are Vernon Bertsch and Robert Plemel Jr. Russell Duane Erickstad was born January 10th, 1930 in Devils Lake to Moses Samuel and Charlotte (Garske) Erickstad. He attended school in Garske, Webster and graduated from Devils Lake Central High School. Russell then attended the Wahpeton Trade School for one year. Russell joined the United States Navy on April 17, 1951 and served his country during the Korean War aboard the USS Twinning – DD540. Russell was honorably discharged on April 15, 1955 at Glenview, Illinois with the rank of Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class. After his military service he returned to Garske and started farming. Russell was united in marriage to Sonja T. Jensen on June 22nd, 1968 in Upham, North Dakota. They established their home at the farm near Garske where they lived, worked and raised their family through the years. Russell was a member of Trinity-Bergen Lutheran Church and the Starkweather American Legion. He was also a member of the Devils Lake VFW and a 50 plus year member of the Elks Lodge. Although his passion was farming, Russell also enjoyed fishing in Canada with friends, hunting, golfing, watching any kind of sports, playing cards and in his younger years enjoyed league bowling. For eleven years, Russell and Sonja spent winter months in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. We have lost someone very special to us and he will be greatly missed. May he now rest in God’s peace. Russell is survived by his loving wife of 41 years, Sonja; son Mikal Erickstad of Starkweather and daughter Amy Jo Henriksen and her husband, Kent of Minneapolis, Minnesota; sisters Violet Stedman of Seattle, Washington, Lois Jacobsen of Ardmore, Oklahoma and Avis (William) Biggerstaff also of Ardmore; sister-in-law Jan (Herb) Lyson of Woodbury, Minnesota and brother-in-law, Ivan Jensen of Palmer, Alaska. Many nieces, nephews and their families also survive. Russell was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Clarence, Ralph and Sammy Erickstad; sisters, Gladyce Moilenen and Amy Irene Erickstad in infancy.