Obituary: Russell Witzel
Russell Cleve Witzel was born on May 7, 1918, near Langdon, ND, 12th of 13 children to Adam and Etta (Quigley) Witzel. He passed away on November 6, 2008, at the age of 90, after battling cancer for the past year.
Russell Cleve Witzel was born on May 7, 1918, near Langdon, ND, 12th of 13 children to Adam and Etta (Quigley) Witzel. He passed away on
November 6, 2008, at the age of 90, after battling cancer for the past year.
He was raised on a farm near Mount Carmel, ND, leaving home at the age of 16 to work in Worthington, MN, on area farms. On February 25, 1941, he entered the Army and served during WWII in the 147th Field Artillery Unit until his discharge on September 14, 1945. On June 1, 1948, he was united in marriage to Rose Zella Grave. Together they had four children, Ruth, Rodney, Rose Marie, and Rhona. He farmed in the Rushmore area until he retired in 1979. In his retirement, he enjoyed traveling, hunting, fishing, reading, and his part time job at the car wash.
Surviving are his children, Ruth (Henry) Finnern of Mankato, MN, Rodney (Sue) Witzel of Worthington, MN, Rose Marie Witzel, of Leavenworth, WA, and Rhona (Doug) Kleve, of Worthington, MN; ten grandchildren, Dawna Finnern, James, Catherine and Michael Witzel, Sidney Kline, Sara, Maya and Mandy Mitchell, Heather and Holly Kleve, and eight great-grandchildren. Preceding Russell in death were his wife, Rose Zel-
la in 1964; his grandchildren, Jeremy Mitchell, Hillery Kleve, and Ryan Finnern; his parents, and all his brothers and sisters.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, November 10, 2008, at 11:00 a.m., at the Benson Funeral Home in Worthington, MN, with Pastor Ryan Radtke officiating. Burial will be in the Sunset Rest Cemetery in Rushmore, MN.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, November 9, 2008, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., at the Benson Funeral Home in Worthington, MN.
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