James Lee Spenst, 64, of Euclid, MN, was ushered into the presence of Jesus on Sunday, March 26, 2023, at Mayo Clinic Methodist Hospital – Rochester, MN, lovingly surrounded by family. Jim courageously fought a 23-year battle with liver disease, with his beloved wife “Muffy” fighting for him to the very end.
Jim was born to Arthur and Pauline (Ewert) Spenst on June 27, 1958, in Devils Lake, ND. He was the oldest of six children and started school in the one-room schoolhouse not far from the family farm. Jim graduated from Langdon High School in 1976.
Jim started working as a stone mason in his teenage years and found that his hand took to the trowel quite nicely. He later co-founded the residential construction company, The Builders. In 1994, Jim began work as a Construction Superintendent for Construction Engineers (Grand Forks, ND) and joined Rice Lake Construction Group (Deerwood, MN) in 2016. Jim loved his work and enjoyed everyone he worked with. Jim was a master storyteller, and his sense of humor warmed his way into the hearts of many.
“10-10-88” was the most significant date in Jim’s life as the day he fully surrendered his life to Jesus Christ and was never the same. He went on to take mission trips to build churches in Africa and Ecuador and built dorms for Mt Carmel Camp in Towner, ND. Jim knew what it meant to be a follower of Jesus, and will be remembered as a humble, patient, kind, and loving person who was gracious and merciful to others.
Jim married the love of his life, Bonnie (Schulz) on July 27, 1991, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Crookston, MN, where Jim & Bonnie were members. Jim built their dream home in rural Euclid, MN where they lived most of their married life. Jim loved the great outdoors—hunting, fishing, and cutting wood with his beloved Husky, Mishka. He especially enjoyed his time in the lazy boy watching westerns and escaping the cold and snowy north to take vacations in Mexico with family and friends.
Jim’s daughter, Becky, held a special place in his heart and regarded him as the best dad in the world. He enjoyed trips to south Texas to spend time with his three grandkids.
Jim is survived by his wife Bonnie of rural Euclid, MN; daughter Rebecca Calabria of Livingston, TX; grandchildren Emily Calabria of Las Vegas, NV, Kayla and James Calabria of Livingston, TX; father Arthur Spenst of Wichita, KS; sisters Paula (Henry) Nist of Moore, OK, Bonnie (Todd) Mask of Amarillo, TX; brothers Terry (Stacey) Spenst of Wichita, KS, Nolan (Tracy) Spenst of Lander, WY, and Tyrone (Pauline) Spenst of Plainview, MN, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Jim was preceded in death by his mother, Pauline (Ewert) Spenst.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Jim’s Family.
MEMORIAL SERVICE: 2:00 PM, Monday, April 3, 2023, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Crookston, MN with Rev. Gregory Isaacson and Rev. Tyrone Spenst officiating.
VISITATION: 12 Noon until the time of service at 2:00 also at the church on Monday.
INURNMENT: St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery of Euclid, MN in the Spring.
