Russell Henry Sietsema

Russell H. Sietsema, age 92, of Raymond, passed away Sunday evening, July 25, at his residence.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 29, at the Raymond United Methodist Church.  Interment with military honors will be at Fairview Cemetery in Raymond.  Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 28, at Tri-County Funeral Home in Prinsburg and will continue for one hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday.  Arrangements are with the Tri-County Funeral Home.  www.tricountyfuneral.com 

Russell Henry Sietsema was born May 23, 1929, in Holland Township, Kandiyohi County, Minnesota, the son of Henry and Grace (Fischer) Sietsema.  He grew up and received his education in the Raymond Public School and graduated from high school in 1947.  He worked on the family farm and drove stock truck for Roger Bailey.  In 1951, he was drafted into the Army where he was with the 16th Signal Battalion and earned the rank of Sargent.  On July 10, 1952, he married Gertrude Ellen Honken at the Bethany Reformed Church in Clara City.

They returned to the Raymond area in 1953 and farmed west of Willmar for one year and then farmed near Priam for five years. They then move to a farm east of Raymond in 1959 before settling on to the family farm in 1962. They stayed on the farm and retired from farming in 1994. He was an assessor in Kandiyohi County for many years.  Russell and Gertrude fostered 43 different children from the years of 1977 to 1999. Russell was a Charter Member of the Raymond Lions Club in 1977 and remained a member until his death.  He was the Lion Club Secretary from 1986 to 2011. Russell and Gertrude enjoyed winters in Apache Junction, Arizona. Russell continued to travel South for a few years after Gertrude passed away.  Russell could also be found in the summers at Big Kandi Lake where he enjoyed the company of many friends. He was raised in the United Methodist Church in Raymond and was a member at the Bethany Reformed Church in Clara City until returning to the United Methodist Church in Raymond. Russell enjoyed farming, Lions Club, reading, the outdoors, and visits with his family, particularly his Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren, and friends.  He passed away on Sunday July 25, 2021 at his home. He attained the age of 92 years 2 months and 2 days.

He is survived by three children, daughter Janice and (Douglas) Schmidt for Rapid City, SD, son Merle and (Charlyn) Sietsema of Raymond, MN and daughter Lori and (Bradley) Corso of New Hope, MN, along with one daughter in-law Janice and (Ken) Beyerl of Clara City, eight grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. Also surviving are two sisters Lyla Kapsner of Princeton and Marlene and (Marvin) Noe of Sauk Centre, one brother Kenneth of Hutchinson, along with many other relatives and friends.

Russell was preceded in death by his wife Gertrude (2003), his son Duane (2011), along with three sisters, Esther, Alice and Beatrice, one brother, Harvey, and his parents.

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