Keith Russell

Keith G. Russell, age 70, of Mission Township, died in the arms of his loving family Friday, August 19, 2005 at St. Joseph?s Medical Center in Brainerd, following a brave six-month battle with pancreatic cancer. Mass of Christian Burial will be Tuesday, August 23, 11 am, at Immaculate Heart Catholic Church in Crosslake, with Reverend Father Dennis Hoffman officiating. Friends may visit Monday, August 22, 5-8 pm at Brenny Funeral Chapel in Crosslake, with parish prayers at 7:30 pm, and at the church during the hour prior to services. Interment will be at Pinewood Cemetery in Crosslake. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Immaculate Heart Church Building Fund.
Keith Gordon Russell was born July 5, 1935 in St. Paul, to Gordon and Helen (Johnson) Russell. He grew up in St. Paul and graduated high school at White Bear Lake in 1953. He attended the University of Minnesota and served his country in the Navy, stationed in Norfolk, VA. He was married to the love of his life, Annette Aebly on July 30, 1955 in Glenwood City, WI. The couple recently celebrated their fiftieth anniversary. Keith worked for Equifax. In May of 1971 the couple purchased Beacon Shores Resort on Whitefish Lake of the Whitefish Chain. They operated the resort for 28 years, retiring in 1999. Following retirement they moved to their current home on Horseshoe Lake. Keith was a member of Immaculate Heart Catholic Church; his faith was very important to him. He looked forward to the construction of a new church building. He was a long-time member of the Chambers of Commerce in Crosslake, Pequot Lakes, and the Brainerd Lakes Area, the Minnesota Resort Association, the Congress of Minnesota Resorts, and the Whitefish Area Lodging Association. He was a member of the Mission Township Planning and Zoning Committee. He served on committees that purchased the first snow grooming machine and established the Crosslake area snowmobile trail system. A hard-working man who took his responsibilities seriously, Keith always made his family?s needs his first priority. He was a gracious and congenial man with a wonderful sense of humor and made many lifelong friends. He treasured family, friends, and the beauty of the north woods.

Keith will be sadly missed by his loving family: his wife, Annette; his children, Mary (Jon) Hagen, Crosslake, Jean (Dave) Stankoski, Eagan, and Jim Russell, Eden Prairie; his sister, Julianne Russell, Shoreview; and his grandchildren, Mike and Andrea Hagen and Erin and Kaitlin Sullivan. His parents preceded him in death.