Russell Reistad

A Celebration of life of Russ Reistad, will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Wednesday, June 26 at First Lutheran Church in Ellendale.  The Reverend Richard L. Sliper will officiate.  Interment will be in First Lutheran Cemetery, Ellendale.  Visitation will be from 5:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M. on Tuesday at Bonnerup Funeral Service, Ellendale, and one hour before the service at the church. After a very brief battle with a very rare disease, Jesus came to escort Russ into his heavenly home on June 23, 2019. He was 76. Russell E. Reistad was born on November 10, 1942, at Naeve Hospital in Albert Lea, MN, the son of Maynard and Esther (Brecke) Reistad.  He graduated with the Ellendale High School Class of 1961. He was united in marriage to Lorna Pederson on October 24, 1964 at Trinity Lutheran Church in New Richland, MN. Russ farmed with his dad on a farm east of Ellendale.  In 1991, together, Russ and Lorna opened Flowers and More by Lorna in Ellendale.  He had also worked at the New Richland Care Center as maintenance director, worked in retail at D&D in Blooming Prairie, and enjoyed his years of driving the school van for those with special needs.

He was a member of First Lutheran Church in Ellendale where he held various positions on the church council for more than 30 years.  Russ enjoyed being a part of, and a leader for faith based renewal,  Lutheran Via de Cristo.  He was a very active volunteer for the food shelf in Ellendale, had served as a trustee at the Bank of Ellendale, and was a founding member of the Memories Car Club.He enjoyed the simple things in life and found joy in his 64 Impala SS, sharing his stain glass talents, and spending time around the table with family and friends.

He will be greatly missed by his wife Lorna, his sons: Michael (Theresia) Reistad of Tomah, WI, Kevin (Robin) Reistad of Ellendale, MN, and David Reistad ( Linda Zvorak) of Ellendale, MN; grandchildren:  Shirley (Paul) Gray of Rosemont, OR and children Jordan, Makayla, Kadugan and Dexter; Theresia (Edwin) Martinez of Milton, FL, and children Austin, Airyuni and Edwin, Jr.; Ernie Reistad of Layton, UT, Cody Reistad of Ellendale, Heidi Renchin, of Mpls, MN, Ashley (Derek) Johnson of Golden Valley, MN and daughter Raegen; brother Wayne (Marilyn) Reistad of Owatonna, MN, sisters-in-law: Gail Johnson of New Richland and Wendy (Jule) Johnson of Otisco, MN, also two nephews and seven nieces.

He was preceded in death by his parents,  Maynard and Esther Reistad, his father-in-law and mother-in-law Ernie and Hazel Pederson, and brother-in-law Merrill Johnson.

Russ was a very non-assuming family man- who quietly touched peoples lives with his caring, loving nature.