Russell Brink
Russell O. Brink, 71, Horace, ND passed away on Sunday, November 4, 2018 at Vibra Hospital in Fargo. He was born on February 14, 1947 to Robert and Irene (Trom) Brink in Fargo. Russ grew up on the family farm near Horace. He graduated from West Fargo High School in 1965.
Following graduation, Russ continued farming with his dad. Russ was a farmer his entire life.
On December 4, 1971 he was united in marriage to Karen McCollough-Lovellette at Horace Lutheran Church. The couple made their home on the farm where they raised their four children.
Russ was a lifelong, active member of Horace Lutheran Church, where he was baptized, confirmed and married.
In addition to farming, he was active with Cass County 4H as a member and leader of the Golden Prairie 4H Club.
He was the president of the Horace Fire Department district board for 47 years.
Russ served on the Cass County Farmers Union board and was currently the treasurer.
Family was very important to Russ and his grandkids were his pride and joy. He loved being Papa.
Russ enjoyed playing cards, collecting toy tractors, and playing Farkle. He also liked teasing and telling jokes to everyone he met.
Russ is survived his wife of 46 years, Karen; children, Scott Brink, Horace; Tim Brink, Horace; Jeff (Kristi) Brink, Davenport; Tamara (Bryce) Dunford, Horace; grandchildren, Samantha, Austin, and Tyler Dunford; Mattie, Kaitlyn and Elijah Brink; sister, Karen (Dennis) Fenske, Waupan, WI. He is also survived by family friends who considered him to be a second dad. Also surviving are many other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other relatives.
There will be a visitation from 5-7:00 PM with a prayer service following at 7:00 PM on Thursday, November 8, 2018 at Horace Lutheran Church. The funeral service will be at 11:00 AM on Friday, November 9, 2018 at Horace Lutheran Church with a visitation one hour prior. Burial at Horace Lutheran Cemetery Brink Addition.
Per Russ’ wishes, men in attendance are asked to dress casually. He hated suits and ties and preferred a shirt with blue jeans.
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Karen and family our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. We will miss Russell. He could always
put a smile on our faces with his stories and jokes. His personality was so uplifting with his teasing and he liked
be teased right back we will miss that so much.
Russell always brought a smile to my face. He will be deeply missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you during this difficult time.
Russell you could brighten everyone’s day. We will miss you.
My thoughts and prayers go out to your whole family ! Russell was always such a fun loving guy and I he will be missed ! Embrace in the memories because you will always have memories !
Karen and family, as you will have fond memories of Russ so will everyone he knew. He left a big footprint on everyone he knew. I cant image not having him around town to harass me. It seems like every place we went you and Russ were there since our grandkids go to the same school and we lived in the same town forever. God Bless your family and let us know if there is anything we can do to help you out. We can pick you up for the Kindred programs if you would like.
To the Family ,
I would like to express how sorry to hear of your loss. The pain of losing a loved one is a pain that seemingly never goes away. However, the pain can lessen when we think of what God has promised to do for us.
What comfort does he provide us? First of all, at 1 Cor 15:26 it says: “The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.” So God views death as an enemy and will eventually remove death.
Secondly, Jesus gave us hope when at John 11:25 he said: “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:” So there is a chance to see our loved ones again under better conditions.
This comfort from the Bible has helped me in dealing with the loss of my father and I hope it will help your family to some degree with your loss.
Karen and crew; Wow what a hole Russ’ passing will leave, not just with us but the whole community. He was a treasure, Good Friend, Great neighbor and with every memory of him there will be a smile…
God Bless your family and the memory of Russell…
The Morgan family
To The Brink Family: My heart sank when I heard the news of Russell’s passing. He made an impact on everyone he knew. I knew when I saw him he would tease me and tell me some kind of joke. That man left a smile on my face every time. Even just writing this with tears I smile just being able to say I knew him and what a wonderful person, father, husband, grandpa he was. Scott, Tim, Tammy, and Jeff if you just need to talk, cry, or vent do not hesitate to call or message me, I have been where you are and I know the feelings you are going through. I love you guys!!
Many thoughts and prayers to the Brink Family. I will always remember Russell laughing and shaking his head at the Brink bonfires.
Sorry for your loss!
Russell was a great story teller, and ALWAYS willing to help others and I loved his laugh.
A Horace legend.
Rest in peace
Russell always had a joke or a gave me a hard time when I saw him. The love he showed for his family was amazing! Such a respectful and caring man. I have so much respect for him and his entire family! I hope you all know that! May you find comfort and peace in the memories created and shared! Love you all!
Dear Brink Family,
Such good memories of my short time with Russ and the entire family. He always made me feel
like part of the family! I will miss Russ and ask
God to comfort all of you and remind you always of the good news of Jesus’ resurrection and our hope found in Christ alone.
David and Holly Sorensen and fam
Dearest Karen and Brink family. Russell will be missed by so many. He could make anyone smile. We all should live by his example. What an amazing man. Our thoughts and prayers to you all.
Russ was a wonderful man. He will be missed by many.
Nicest Man in Horace!
I’m sorry about your loss. Russel was a nice person.he was always friendly and talkative
Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Russ was such a kind, caring man who always had a smile on his face and always cracking a joke. He is going to be greatly missed by many. Cherish all the wonderful, fond memories.
Sincerely,
Jodell, Jeff, and Brody
Russell was always playing jokes on people. I can still hear his laugh. I am so thankful I got to be part of his life. He helped me out many times over the years and always made me laugh. It is hard to believe he is really gone. He left this world to early. I hope as an angel he still watches over all of us. I could go on and on with stories but want to leave room for others to write.
Remembering 4-H meetings and many other events with your family and Russ always giving us a bad time. Sending prayers and sympathy to all of you! May he be at peace and may you find peace for yourselves.
Brink Family,
Sorry about your loss. Russel will be missed. Thanks for treating my sister like own daughter Russ all these years.
Karen and family, please accept my condolences on your loss of Russ. I was shocked to see this in the news.
My thoughts and prayers are with you and family.
Oh how this man could make me laugh! We could all count on him to be smiling! He loved his children and grandchildren so much! I will miss him too! We have all been blessed by having him in our lives.
our sympathies to your family. one’s life span is continually changing. time will heal sorrows.
To the Brink Family: I have just heard of Russell’s passing and it saddens me so. I went to Horace Elementary and High School with Russell and we were in the same confirmation class. From the comments before mine, it seems he never changed. He was always fun, sweet and wonderful. I loved watching the video on this site, seeing his family along with his dear parents was so heartwarming for me. It brought back so many memories. I have not seen Russell for many, many, many years. God bless you -his family at this most difficult time.
Sorry to hear of Russell’s passing. May the many memories comfort you all at this difficult time.
I was always fond of Russ. Even after all these years removed from Golden Prairie 4-H he always said hello and had a story or joke to tell anywhere we would run into each other. He will be missed. — Evelyn Rutten
Karen and family, we would like to express our sympathy. So sorry you are having to go through the loss of Russell. Knowing the fine man he was and the impact he had on the community, as a family your fond memories of Russell will go on forever.
Prayers for all of you and rest in peace Russell
Kent and Cindee Ness
Russ was always fun to run into! Always left you laughing with a story or joke! He will be missed!
Your in our thoughts & prayers.
Andy & Julie Levos
My condolences to the Brink family, Russ was a pleasure to know,and serve with on the county board, just a fine person to be around, will miss him.
Always enjoyed visiting with Russ, he was a good man.
Russell was a very special man he was very caring to all. He will be missed by all. Rest in peace Russell. Charleen Greuel and families.
Karen and family. We have you in our prayers. With love and sympathy.
Dear Karen, Scott, Tim, Jeff, Tammy and family,
Our sincere condolences on Russell’s passing. What wonderful fate it was for our family when Russell sold us one of your lots in 1983 and we became neighbors in 1989. Your family was so kind to us and the girls. When we think of Russell, we hear a joke, a story and his laugh. He was always so neighborly and made us feel right at home, living on Brink Drive. He was always happy to lend a helping hand, such as when Jenny would slide off the driveway into the snowy ditch. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all, Ron and Jenny Kaiser
Our family was saddened to read about your loss of Russell. Precious people leave a special place in our hearts. May Comforting words and thoughts sustain you in the months and years to come. For a ‘lift’ in the disquieting days ahead, Search: ‘loss of loved one’ at jw.org.
Dear Karen and family,
We were very sad to read of Russ’ death. We so enjoyed his large and loving presence at Horace Lutheran while we did an interim in 2011-2012. The early morning Bible study pancake breakfasts were made much livlier with you and Russ and the youngest grands. Those times were part of the great memories of our time at your church home. What a wonderful family man he was. Your family has been blessed!
The video tribute was so touching, glad it was online. Please know you have been and will continue to be in our prayers.
Pastor Jim and Carol Bjorge
I only knew Russ for a few years and that was through his plowing snow for us at KFNW.
But, yet from the very first time I met him he was a Friend, it was almost like we’d known each other for years.
Our conversations were sometimes funny and sometimes serious, but always welcome.
Russ, his jokes, and those conversations will be very missed!
I’m sorry for your loss, I just found out this morning.
May you know Gods comfort and His arms wrapped around your entire Family.