In Remembrance

Timothy “Tim” Bushnell slipped away peacefully into the next life with his wife of 52 years at his side on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. Tim was born on April 23, 1953, the firstborn of 7 children, to Dennis and Lyla (Fulton) Bushnell in Minneapolis. His father began active duty in the US Army and the growing family lived in various places throughout the US for a few years. After returning to Dennis’ family’s farm in Wright, MN, they then lived in North Minneapolis before taking up permanent residence in a brand-new home in Fridley, MN. Along with his parents and younger siblings, Tim spent many weekends at his grandparents’ farms in northern Minnesota and survived the Fridley tornado of 1965 in the basement of the family home. He graduated from Fridley High School in 1971.

Tim worked part time at the McDonald’s restaurant in Fridley while attending the University of Minnesota and later was accepted into full-time management training there. He was baptized at St Philip’s Lutheran church in Fridley and married Valerie Rasmussen, a 1973 graduate of Fridley High, there in 1974. They had 2 children and, after transferring to McDonald’s in Duluth, MN in 1979 and buying a house there, they had 2 more children. Tim and Val eventually bought a small business and ran it for a couple of years before he accepted a management position in Food Service at the University of Minnesota Duluth in 1985. He managed multiple food service areas in his 28 years at UMD, serving hundreds of students and staff, and was actively involved in the redesign and remodeling of UMD Food Service and the Food Court.

In his free time, Tim enjoyed agate hunting, antique collecting, farm auctions, coin auctions, fishing, boating and canoeing, deer hunting at the family cabin in Aitkin County, Bushnell family campouts, snowmobiling and 4 wheeling with friends and family, and spending time at his in-laws’ cabin on Horseshoe Lake near Brainerd. Favorite pursuits were taking the kids and grandkids on tractor rides and Christmas tree hunts through the woods with his 1953 Farmall tractor and Ford pickup box trailer, and Fourth of July Bushnell family reunions and fireworks. He loved a good chess game, a rousing board game like Stock Market, and an occasional spirited philosophical discussion. He enjoyed music and especially loved singing in the Trinity Lutheran Church choir and with the “contemporary band” for many years. He was a master at telling stories of his many impromptu adventures and loved a good audience.

Tim retired from UMD in 2013 and spent his retirement years searching for treasures at Saver’s and other secondhand shops, as well as spending time with kids and grandkids, enjoying multiple extended family trips to Walt Disney World and Vero Beach, summer retreats with family on a lake near Nisswa and working/relaxing at his grandparents’ former farm in Aitkin County, which Tim and Val purchased in 1995.

Tim battled and triumphed over bladder cancer, enduring multiple medical procedures while witnessing to the operating room staff with his solo rendition of “Do Not Be Afraid” (by Lost and Found) as the anesthesia was being administered. In spite of a blood clotting disorder, pulmonary fibrosis and severe pulmonary hypertension, he fought through it all bravely and with grace until the end. He was often heard telling people, “It’s no fun having a life-threatening disease unless you can make jokes about it.”

Tim was predeceased by his youngest brother, Danny (Mary) Bushnell, his parents Dennis and Lyla Bushnell, his niece Naomi Jon Anderson, and in-laws Jim and Gen Rasmussen, and is survived by his sister/co-conspirator, Bonnie (John) Anderson and brother/hunting companion Steve (Dawn) Bushnell, sisters Sharen Carstens and Linda (Gerald) Ladwig, and brother Rollin Bushnell.

Tim was loved dearly. His quick wit, humor, generosity and caring will be deeply missed by his wife, Val, children Dayna (Travis) Leslie, Aron (Sharlene Santmyer), Garret (Heather), and Shawna, grandchildren Tiffany (Kyle) Aguilera, Justin (Kelsey Cherne) Bushnell, Blake Leslie (Caitlin Yauger), Zander, Zoie, Lianna, Abner, Ivar, and Lyla Bushnell, great grandchildren Blayden, Teghan, Raylan, and Kyler, brothers in law Kirk and Randy Rasmussen, and many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.

The family extends heartfelt thanks to Pastor Shivon Miller, our church family at Trinity Lutheran in Duluth, the wonderful medical staff at Aspirus St Luke’s Cardiac Department and Aspirus St Luke’s Hospice Program for their caring and support.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church, 1108 E 8^th Street, in Duluth on Thursday, April 23^rd (Tim’s birthday) with visitation at 2 pm and service at 3 pm. A “pizza party” gathering of friends and family will follow at the Country Inn and Suites, 4257 Haines Road, Duluth. In addition, an outdoor salute and send-off will be held around sunset on Saturday, July 4, 2026, at the family property in Aitkin County following the annual Fourth of July picnic (check with a family member for details if interested).