Russell Gabrielson

Russell Gabrielson, 89, of Hoffman passed away on October 16, 2024, at Bethany Home in Alexandria MN. Visitation will be held Thursday October 24th from 5pm to 7pm, with a prayer service at 6:30 pm at the Erickson-Smith Funeral Home, Hoffman. Funeral will be held Friday October 25, at 11 am at Messiah Lutheran Church in Hoffman, MN with Pastor Mark Mathews officiating. Interment will be in Bethel Cemetery following. 

Russell Dean Gabrielson, was born March 14, 1935, at the Montevideo hospital to Mirriam & Amy Gabrielson. He grew up on the family farm near Big Bend, MN and was baptized and a confirmed member at the Big Bend Lutheran Church. He graduated from Appleton Public School in 1951 at the age of 16 to help out on the family farm. On March 24, 1956, he married Delores Ann Sandberg. Following their marriage, they farmed together around Big Bend/Milan area. He also worked road construction for Larson Gravel Company for almost 20 years. He was a very active member of the Big Bend Lutheran Church. He held many positions within the church including janitor for a year, President of the church, and much more. In 1987, they relocated to their summertime home at Red Rock Lake by Hoffman and then Russ worked at the Hoffman Cenex and various other places before going to Standard Iron as a bandsaw operator for 12 years before retiring. After Russ retired, he and Delores decided to take a trip in the winter of 2000 to Apache Junction AZ to visit his snowbird siblings. They went down for 2 weeks and came home 3 months later after purchasing their own place in the retirement park. They enjoyed 15 years of the desert life with lots of memories, beautiful tans all year round and made fabulous lifelong friends. 

Russell’s faith in the Lord was very important to him. In more recent years Russell and Delores became active members of the Messiah Lutheran Church in Hoffman, not only attending in person on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings, but also through the streaming online service when they physically weren’t able to attend.

Russell enjoyed hunting, fishing, welding and tinkering with things (there was nothing he couldn’t fix), playing pool, cards and visiting with people. He loved making lefsa. He was the flipper/fryer and loved making and gifting rosettes. If you visited the house at any time in the fall/winter you were treated to rosettes and usually got some sent home with you as well. Russell also enjoyed being a member of the Hoffman Senior Citizen Center attending meals, playing cards, attending Friday night Bingo, sharing stories, and making some amazing friendships.

Russell and Delores had 5 children to the union of their marriage, Julie, Lynn, Janelle, Larry and Jeanette. Delores, his children, and grandchildren were very important in Russ’ life, along with all the friendships he made.

He is survived by his children, Lynn (Karen) Gabrielson, Janelle (William) Wellnitz, Larry (Kristin) Gabrielson, Jeanette (Daniel) Weber; son-in-law, Randy Pederson; 12 Grandchildren: Ryan (Amy) Pederson, LeeAnn (Scott) Boehne, Jason (Ashley) Pederson, Davis (Nellie) Gabrielson, Mitch (Karen) Gabrielson, Lonnie (Lisa) Gabrielson, Christopher Wellnitz, Stephanie (Phil) Wellnitz, James Gabrielson, Paige Gabrielson, Brenden (Jennifer) Weber and Deonna (Matthew) Patch; 19 great grandchildren: Noah, Madysen, Carter, Allison, Trent, Tyson, Yvonne, Owen, Malachi, Aria, Myla, Connor, Cade, Bennett, Brooks, Haven, Onyx, Iwan and Jens; 6 great-great grandchildren: Jakobie, James, Everett, Jaxson, Hutton and Sylvia; brother, David (Janet) Gabrielson; sister, Judith Thompson; sister-in-law, Pearl Gabrielson; and many nieces and nephews. 

He was proceeded in death by his wife, Delores; daughter, Julie Pederson; mother, Amy; father, Mirriam; brothers, Maurice Gabrielson and Donald Gabrielson; brothers-in-law, Robert Thompson, Virgil Sandberg, Gordon Carlson, and Richard Langager; sisters-in-law, Charmain Carlson and Sharon Langager; mother and father in-law; 1 niece and 3 nephews; 1 great nephew; numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.