On March 15, 2022, Russell Stenseng, Jr. cashed in his one way ticket to Heaven. He was born on April 4, 1945 in Bagley, Minnesota to Russell C. Stenseng, Sr. and Violet (Sivers) Stenseng. The family lived in Clearbrook where Russell attended school. He loved sharing stories and had precious memories about helping on the family farm. Russell quit school, left home, and went to work on a ranch in Montana for awhile. He then returned to Minnesota and went to work for the Merchant Marines on the SS Henry Phipps on the Great Lakes, until he was drafted into the Army. Basic training was at Fort Leonardwood; then to Fort  Bragg, North Carolina for airborne training.  He received his high school diploma during this time. Russell completed a one year tour of duty in Vietnam and returned back to the states and received honorable discharge on September 20, 1967. Russell offered an Army  buddy from Fort Scott, Kansas a ride home. His friend set him up with blind date with Sherri Rhodes. He  didn't make it back to Minnesota right away. They were married six months later.

Russ moved his family to El Dorado, Kansas in 1979 to take a job at Skelly Refinery. After getting laid off, he was hired at El Dorado  Correctional Facility, where when he retired was the Disciplinary Administrator. He did not like the "honey do list", so he came out of retirement to work as a Deputy in the office of the  Sheriff's Department.  He loved hunting and fishing, watching the deer that would come around the house.  He also enjoyed watching his Purple Martins from that same window. Russ was a very active member of the McDonald's Coffee Club. An avid gardener...well he tried.  One of Russell's favorite hobbies was watching the  Duluth harbor live videos and watching the ships come into Duluth. He was a wonderful storyteller who loved family vacations, especially to Roaring River and Branson. Helping people was always something you could find Russell doing. Whether it was passing out hand and foot warmers, helping cook and supplying meals to the homeless,  or just generally  thinking about other people first, Russell was right there leading the way with his quiet, dry sense of humor.

Russell is survived by his wife Sherri, children Russell C. III and Kristi Evans (Blake); siblings Winnie Rholl, Danny Stenseng and wife, Anne Granitz, and Rubin Stenseng; grandchildren Isabel Roark and Logan Stenseng; faithful dog Misty; many nieces, nephews, other family and friends. Russell was preceded in death by his parents, brother Gayden and sister-in-law Connie.

Memorial service will be held at Family Worship Center at 10:00am on March 28th. In lieu of flowers, family asks that memorial donations be made in Russell's memory to Butler Homeless Initiative, P. O. Box 447 or  Family Worship Center Food Pantry, 701 S. Atchison.