Russell Sylvester Martinson

Russell (Russ) Martinson, Jr. passed away on May 5, 2015 at GracePointe CrossingWest in Cambridge, MN. at the age of 81 years.He was born on October 10, 1933 in Minneapolis to Russell, Sr. and Minnie (Peterson) Martinson. He was raised on the dairy farm of his grandfather, Swan Peterson, and then his father in Rock Creek Township, along with his brother, Gerald (Jerry).Russ spent his elementary years at rural Lincoln School, transferring to Pine City High School for the ninth grade through graduation in 1951. After that he was able to help his dad full-time on the farm, which he dearly loved.In 1954 Russ was drafted into the U.S. Army, with stations in Missouri, Texas, and Fort Meade, Maryland. It was there he met Martha (Marty) Martinson and convinced the “city gal” to become the wife of a farmer. They became parents to Kathy in 1958 and Dale in 1960. They settled in his grandfather Martinson's former farm, and Russ began dairy farming in earnest, adding cows, enlarging the barn twice, buying more land, etc. through the years. Russ continued his dairy operation until 1999 and then turned to only crop farming until 2012, when a stroke ended his field work. Russ' passion for dairy led him to positions on the boards of the Pine County Dairy Association, the Minnesota Dairy Promotion Council, and the United Dairy Industry Association. Wanting to give back to the community in which he had lived all his life, he also served as Mayor of Rock Creek for two terms from 1985 to 1990. The faith Russ had was evident in his life, from farming which he felt was in cooperation with God, to filling various positions in local churches. As his health problems persisted and surgeries increased, his wisdom through it all was that it was always a WIN/WIN situation. “If I live, I get to be with my family, and if I die, I go to be with the Lord.” He knew Jesus as his Savior. Russ was preceded in death by his father, Russell, and his mother, Minnie. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, daughter Kathy (Scott) Lobdell of Waconia; son Dale (Lisa) Martinson of Rochester; Nathan (Shaina) Lobdell of Hudson, WI; Jeremy Lobdell of Chicago; Amanda and Nicolas Martinson of Rochester, and brother Jerry (Jean Marie) of Golden Valley.  Pastor Dennis Eng will officiate at services for Russ Martinson; 3:00 p.m., Saturday (May 9, 2015) at the Swanson Chapel in Pine City, with a time of visitation and reviewal one hour prior to the service Saturday and also Friday evening from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Swanson chapel. The interment for Russ Martinson will take place in the Pine Grove Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the American Heart Association. Funeral arrangements for Russ Martinson of Pine City are entrusted to the Funeral and Cremation Service of Pine City~ Swanson Chapel www.funeralandcremationservice.com