Russell Leaf
Posted 5/31/01

Funeral services for Russell Carl Leaf, 76, were Friday, May 25, at the Trinity Lutheran Church with the Rev. Gary Fehring officiating.

Pallbearers were his grandchildren. Music was by Ann Johnson and Cheryl Bailey. Military honors were provided by Milaca Legion Hansen-Hayes Post 178 and Milaca VFW 10794.

Arrangements were with the Peterson-Johnson Funeral Home in Milaca.

Mr. Leaf died Monday, May 21, 2001 at the St. Cloud Hospital.

He was born Jan. 31, 1925 to Andrew and Mary (Erickson) Leaf in Grandy, Minn. Russell attended school in Grandy and then Cambridge where he graduated from high school in 1943. He entered the U.S. Navy, serving during World War II. He married Dorothy Norberg Feb. 25, 1950 in Braham. Russell worked for Northwestern Bell Telephone beginning in 1947 in Mora. They moved to Milaca in 1952. There Russell contined to work for Gopher State and then Continental Telephone until his retirement in 1982. Russell was a lifetime member of the Hansen-Hayes American Legion Post in Milaca where he had served as commander. Russell was also a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Milaca and longtime member of the Milaca Golf Course.

Russell enjoyed fishing, golfing, playing cards, playing the accordion, and collecting and repairing old fishing equipment. In his retirement, he enjoyed playing with and teaching his grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife, Dorothy of Milaca; children, Lynne (Tom) Prodger of Wyoming, Minn., Darwin (Lisa) of Plato, Minn., Adele (Mark) Robinson of Minneapolis, Gordy (Lynn) of Milaca, Edie (Scot) Bassett of Cross Lake, Minn., Sally (Lars) Gehlbach of Corona, Calif., and Joe (Denise) of Milaca; 17 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; seven sisters, Marian Tessmar of Minneapolis, Jean Bjorklund of Tigard, Oregon, Dorothy Nelson of Spring Lake Park, Minn., Barbara Nystrom of Tower, Lila (Jack) Hasser of Isle, Beverly (Glen) Paulson of Braham, and Janice Johnson of Rush City; and by many nieces and nephews.

He was also survived by special friends, Walt and Edna Bartelt of Vinton, La., who were godparents to all seven children.

He was preceded in death by four brothers, LeeMoile, Allen, George and Wayne; and his parents.