Crookston Obituaries

Current Obituaries - (Obituaries are posted for one week)

James Ellinger, 68, formerly of Crookston, died on July 13 in Evergreen, Colorado. Plans are pending for a celebration of Jim’s life with DEE, Incorporated in Crookston. He was born in Crookston and spend his early years in Castro Valley, California where he graduated from high school in 1960. He met Sharon Haskin at San Jose State and they were married in 1963. While attending UND earning a BS and Master’s degrees in Industrial Arts, he started making aluminum castings. This grew to become DEE, Inc. in 1975. This business continues as a leading manufacturer of aluminum castings and machining operation. Jim was a gifted builder, whether building cars, houses or a company, he truly enjoyed the challenges of taking a concept and turning it into something lasting. His greatest joy was his family. He hoped to survive his challenges with cancer so that he could continue to be an active part of their lives. He gave it his all.
James is survived by his wife Sharon, son Todd (Kara) Ellinger, and two grandsons, Daughter Jaymie (Milan) Larson and two granddaughters; two sisters Jeri Ellinger, Mary (Gary) Jagoe, niece Marcie (Rick) Billings and families, cousins Gary and Mike Ellinger. He was preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Donna Ellinger.

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James William Jensen, 94, of Crookston, Minnesota, formerly of Beltrami, Minnesota, died peacefully, Monday evening, July 26, 2010 at the Villa St. Vincent Nursing Home in Crookston. Jim was born on September 28, 1915, in Boissevain, Manitoba, Canada, the son of James S. Jensen and Martina (Pedersen) Jensen. He was one of eight children. After graduating from high school in Boissevain he emigrated to the United States in 1936, with many members of his family. Jim sought and gained naturalization as a citizen of the U.S. in 1947. He always retained a love and high regard for his native Canada, while being very grateful and proud of his U.S. citizenship. Continuing in the tradition of his father, Jim spent all of his working life as a railroad employee, beginning work as a child hauling mail sacks for the Brandon, Saskatchewan and Hudson Bay Railroad. After moving to the U.S., he began work for the Great Northern Railroad as a Railway and Maintenance employee, traveling and living across much of North Dakota and eastern Montana. Jim soon studied for and earned a place as an Agent-Telegrapher. Nearly all of those years were spent in Beltrami. He was very proud of never having missed a duty day in over 45 years. During the course of his years of employment with the Great Northern and later Burlington Northern, Jim was assigned 26 students to train in as Agent-Telegraphers for the company. Many of them remained in touch with him throughout his life, and he treasured those relationships. After many years of very dedicated service, Jim retired from the railroad in 1975. In March of 1945, Jim was united in marriage to Harriet Sorby of Kragnes, Minnesota, and in March of 2008 they would have celebrated 63 years of married life together if Harriet had not passed away just a few days earlier. Throughout his life, Jim was a dedicated gardener. He enjoyed sharing his apple, potato, corn and carrot harvest with the community, and many Beltrami residents, and later Crookston neighbors enjoyed that harvest every fall. Jim also relished his coffee break discussions with friends, and dedicated a lot of time to reading on favorite subjects including science, religion, politics and social policy. He always advocated strongly for young people to obtain good educations, and he contributed generously to his own children’s and his grandchildren’s educational pursuits. Throughout his life Jim assisted many young people to learn to have healthy fun skating, fishing, swimming, playing croquet and baseball. Jim was a long-time member of the Brotherhood of Maintenance and Railway Employees. He will be remembered as a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.
Loving family members include his daughter, Laurie (Dan) Wilson of Crookston, MN; daughter-in-law, Judy Jensen of Kansas City, Mo; grandchildren, Patrick, Timothy (Traci) and Nicholas (Amanda) Wilson, John Jensen, Jessica (Chris) Hamilton and Jacy (Stefan) Tapp; great-granddaughter, Brianna Hamilton; sister-in-law Bessie Sorby; and many nieces and nephews. Besides his wife Harriet, Jim was preceded in death by his beloved son Jay; his parents, James S. and Martina; sisters: Mary, Elna, Dinah, Marion and Winona, brothers, Murton and Gordon.
The funeral service for James W. Jensen will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, July 31, 2010 at the Chapel at the Villa St. Vincent Nursing Home in Crookston, with Pastor Trey Everett, officiating. Visitation will be for one hour before the funeral. Interment will be in the Sunset Memorial Garden in Fargo, ND. Arrangements are with the Stenshoel-Houske Funeral Home.

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Ruby Sandberg, 91 of Thief River Falls and formerly of Crookston, died on Thursday, July 22 at Sanford Medical Center in Thief River Falls.
Ruby Kathleen Schram was born March 7, 1919 in Otter Tail county in a log house near Vergas, the daughter of Jeremiah and Anna Amanda (Rudolph) Schram. She attended country school and grew to adulthood near Detroit Lakes. Ruby’s mother died when Ruby was 16 years old and she stayed home to help take care of the family. She was from a family of 11 children. Ruby was united in marriage to Elworth Johnston Sandberg, May 11, 1938 in a Lutheran Church in Detroit Lakes. The couple made their home in Detroit Lakes for about a year, before moving to Crookston where they lived until 1977. When living in Crookston, Ruby worked at Golf Terrace Motel for 13 years. They retired to the Bagley area for 13 years. Elworth died in 1993 and Ruby moved back to Crookston and lived on her son’s farms for four years before moving to Riverside Terrace Apartments in Thief River Falls in 1997. Ruby raised 5 children and was an avid reader who has read almost every book in the library. She enjoyed cooking, gardening, picking berries and canning and making wonderful pies.
Ruby is survived by four children, Robert (Jane) Sandberg of Crookston, Diane (Glenn) Lucas, Enid, Mississippi, Michael Sandberg, California and Jennifer Reigstad of Newfolden; 13 grandchildren, Michelle (Joe) Sorman, St. Paul, David (Jana) Isaac, Circle Pines, Diane (Mike) Hanna, Roseville, Merry Isaac, Roseville, Chris (Sharman) Sandberg, Oreana, Illinois, Kimberly (John) Onnen, Barnesville, Denise (Mike) Turner, Alabama, Glenn Lucas II, Atlanta, Georgia, Rachel Sandberg, California, Bryan (Kristin) Maurstad, Newfolden, Matthew Maurstad, Newfolden, Amanda Woinarowicz, Thief River Falls; 25 great grandchildren, four great great grandchildren, brother Robert Schram, Detroit Lakes and many nieces, nephews and other relatives. She was preceded in death by her husband Elworth, daughter, Kathleen Isaac, her parents, granddaughter Erica Olson, three sons in laws, Ronald Isaac, Dennis Maurstad, and Arnold Reigstad, and nine siblings.
Funeral Services for Ruby Sandberg will be on Monday, July 26 at 2 p.m. at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls. Burial will be at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, July 27 at the Upsala Cemetery near Detroit Lakes.
Visitation will be on Monday from 12 to 2 p.m. at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls.
Family condolences may be sent to www.johnsonfuneralservice.com.

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