In Remembrance

Russell R. Flynn, 86 of Twig, MN went home to rest on Monday, February 14, 2022, after a brief time of hospice care at Carlton Place, where he was surrounded and cared for by his loving devoted children.

Russ was a graduate of Brookston High School and during those years he was a multiple sport athlete, and excelled at them all.

At the age of 15, Russ and his lifelong friend/brother Roy Autio started working on the railroad during the summer months in Silver Bay, MN, where they continued to work after graduation.  After graduation, Russ and Roy decided on the buddy plan to enlist in the army together.  Due to an unforeseen medical condition Roy was unable to enlist, which to this day Dad was certain Roy rigged (wink)! ? After completing basic-training, Russ married his high-school sweetheart, Phyllis.  He then went on to serve his country in the Korean War from July 1955 to May of 1957.  Upon returning home, with the help of Sulo Nuorala, he then went on to work as a heavy equipment operator at the Reserve Mining CO. in Babbitt, MN. After the closing down of the site, he then moved to Proctor, MN where he worked for the Village of Proctor as a heavy equipment operator for the next four years.  In 1962, on a Saturday afternoon and nothing more than a friendly handshake, Russ and his wife purchased 40 acres in Twig, MN. He then took a job with the family owned  construction company Standard/BayWest Construction, where he continued to work as an operator for 35 years. In 1997, at the ripe age of 62, Russ retired from the construction world and made his way to his fulltime yard grooming job on his beloved 40 acres in Twig!  Together, Russell and Phyllis raised five wonderful children.  Kathy (Brian) Hansen of Maple Grove, Sandy (Ed) Modin of Esko, Mike (Lori) Flynn of Anchorage, Jeff Flynn of Thief River Falls, and Brian (Heidi) Flynn of Brookston.  Russ had 16 grandchildren, and 18 great-grandchildren, and his brother Jim (Verna) Flynn.  Russ was blessed and loved his numerous nieces and nephews who brought him much joy and laughter!  He is preceded in death by his father Thomas and his mother Margaret, and nine siblings.

Russell’s life will be celebrated with full veteran honors in an outside ceremony on Friday, February 18, 2022 promptly at 10:45 a.m. at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery, 4777 US-53, Saginaw, MN 55779.  For those that plan to attend this service, please remain in your vehicles and proceed in the procession line to the place of burial.  Following the celebration of life please join the family at the Twig Town Hall/Community Center, http://grandlaketownship.com/twig-town-hall., for a luncheon. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.

With much gratitude and thankfulness, we the family wish to thank the wonderful attentive staff at Carlton Place for all their loving care they gave to our Dad. He loved all his new little “Sweethearts”! ?