Lloyd Russell (“Russ”) Christensen, 85, of International Falls, Minn., passed away peacefully Monday, Aug. 6, 2012, from complications due to cardiac amyloidosis. He was surrounded by his loving family while in hospice care in Bloomington, Minn.
On March 21, 1927, he was born on the family farm in Loman, Minn. He moved with his family to International Falls in 1932.
In 1945 he joined the United States Navy, serving in the Amphibious Corps until the end of World War II. His experiences took him all across the South Pacific including Okinawa and Hiroshima, Japan.
On Oct. 14, 1950, he married Alice Severson of International Falls.
Russ worked for his family’s business, The Totem Pole, and was employed by Mando (later known as Boise Cascade). He retired as a Boise paper machine supervisor in 1985.
Russ had a passion for nature and the outdoors, snowshoeing and hiking until just a couple years ago and photographing birds until just recently.
He was also a woodworker, creating a variety of bird carvings and projects. Russ built and monitored approximately one thousand houses for the Eastern Bluebird, which assisted in the recovery of the species. He also constructed bird house kits for several of his daughter’s elementary classes to assemble.
Russ spent his life helping others and would do anything for anyone. He was an outstanding citizen and family man.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Lloyd and Nora (Moss) Christensen; his wife, Alice Christensen; and a younger sister, Myrtle.
Survivors include his only daughter, Theresa Halpern (Dan), his only grandson, Jacob, and two step granddaughters, Hannah and Olivia, all of Bloomington, Minn.; brothers, Elliott (Marge) of Hoyt Lakes, Minn., Robert (Joellyn) of the Falls, and Donald of St. Paul, Minn.; sisters, Virginia Sweney of Hoyt Lakes and Margaret (Mel) Scheirer of Minnetonka, Minn.; several nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He is also survived by his special friend, Joann Sullivan and her family.
Services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Monday, Aug. 13, at Zion Lutheran Church, International Falls.
Interment will follow at Riverside Cemetery, Loman, with full military rites.
A memorial gathering will take place from 5 to 7 p.m., with Masonic Rites at 6:30, Sunday, Aug. 12, at Green-Larsen Mortuary.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Zion Lutheran Church, the Masonic Lodge, or the Border Shrine Club; all organizations which Russ enjoyed dedicating over 55 years of service.
Condolences may be left at www.greenlarsen.com.
Arrangements are with Green-Larsen Mortuary Inc., International Falls.
