Russel Graham, 89, of Sioux Falls, formerly of Beresford, South Dakota died November 3, 2019 at Bethany Home in Brandon, SD. Visitation with the family present will be 5-7 PM Friday, Nov. 8, 2019 at Wass Funeral Home in Beresford, SD with a prayer service at 7 PM. Russel's funeral service will be 10 AM Saturday, Nov. 9th at Miller Southside Chapel, 7400 South Minnesota Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD 57108.
Russel Graham was born on May 10, 1930 on the family farm near Beresford to Myron and Jeannette (Anderson) Graham. Beresford was home until moving to Sioux Falls two years ago. He was a life-long farmer, as well as a rural mail carrier for many years.
Russ briefly attended college at SDSU, but his greatest thirst was for the Word of God. During three SD winters, he attended California Lutheran Bible School, where he met his future wife, Ann Lynn Arnold. They were united in marriage March 6, 1959 and blessed with two daughters, Evangel and Sarah.
Russel was a gentle man with a heart of gold; a man of prayer, faith and integrity. He loved the Word of God and studied it all his life. He treasured teaching high school Sunday School, attending and leading multiple men's Bible study groups. He frequently attended Holy Spirit Conferences, Promise Keepers, was a Gideon and volunteered for decades with the prison M2 Man program, mentoring and passionately sharing the message of Jesus.
Russ was a prolific writer and master storyteller with an immense vocabulary. He filled many notebooks and every piece of scratch paper he could find with his musings and memories, frequently contributing to publications and letters to the editor. He was an autodidact and a voracious reader of anything he could get his hands on. His recollection of intricate details in stories and events made listening to him an educational experience and usually resulted in the listener running for a dictionary. Russ and his brother were lifelong listeners and frequent callers on WNAX radio sports quiz and won so many times they had to change the rules to give other callers a chance to win. He loved winning tickets to the MN Twins and was an avid baseball fan all his life.
At the age of 50, he began his running career and eventually ran over 15 marathons in Los Angeles, Hawaii, and Las Vegas. He loved to drive west and visit family, always relying on memory, maps, and questionable lunch meat to get him there.
After hearing Roger Whitaker's song "The Last Farewell," he wrote a poem about the suffering and resurrection of Jesus. It became his testimony in letters he wrote to many. Each of the 10 verses ended with "He loved me dearly, more dearly than any words could tell." He loved the Gospel of John and had deep concern that others would have a relationship with Jesus. Russ was a financially frugal man all his life, believing the real treasure in life was spending time with family and friends, and that all the gold and silver in the world wouldn't make up for the absence of Jesus in your heart.
Russ remained physically and mentally agile almost to the end. He walked 1.7 miles a day up until last February when he suffered a fall, resulting in a brain injury, stroke, and ultimately leading to his death.
Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Ann Lynn, daughters Evangel Wehrkamp (Paul Sickler) and Sarah (Randy) Hardick; grandchildren Bryana Henderson (Christian Przybylowski), Brittany Henderson (David Tollefson), Taylor Hardick, Whitney (Morgan) Wehrkamp, Bryan (Morgan) Wehrkamp, Ashley (Kyle) Hoffman, Kelley Wehrkamp (Tommy Barber), Amanda (Clint) Narveson; and five great-grandchildren: Layla Mitchell, Madden Norling-Wehrkamp, Claire Graham, Tinley and Bennett Hoffman; his sister Janice (Dick) Hanson, sister-in-law JoAnn Graham, and many nieces and nephews: Carol, Sharon, Georgia, Jody, Nancy, Mark, Lezlee, Dan, Dave, Kristi, Cindy, Karen, and David.
One of the great losses of his life was his granddaughter Lyndsey Dayle Wehrkamp on November 1, 2008. Two brothers, George and Roger; half-brother, Donald; and niece, Judy; preceded Russel in death.
[Source: Wass Funeral Home]
Russel Graham was born on May 10, 1930 on the family farm near Beresford to Myron and Jeannette (Anderson) Graham. Beresford was home until moving to Sioux Falls two years ago. He was a life-long farmer, as well as a rural mail carrier for many years.
Russ briefly attended college at SDSU, but his greatest thirst was for the Word of God. During three SD winters, he attended California Lutheran Bible School, where he met his future wife, Ann Lynn Arnold. They were united in marriage March 6, 1959 and blessed with two daughters, Evangel and Sarah.
Russel was a gentle man with a heart of gold; a man of prayer, faith and integrity. He loved the Word of God and studied it all his life. He treasured teaching high school Sunday School, attending and leading multiple men's Bible study groups. He frequently attended Holy Spirit Conferences, Promise Keepers, was a Gideon and volunteered for decades with the prison M2 Man program, mentoring and passionately sharing the message of Jesus.
Russ was a prolific writer and master storyteller with an immense vocabulary. He filled many notebooks and every piece of scratch paper he could find with his musings and memories, frequently contributing to publications and letters to the editor. He was an autodidact and a voracious reader of anything he could get his hands on. His recollection of intricate details in stories and events made listening to him an educational experience and usually resulted in the listener running for a dictionary. Russ and his brother were lifelong listeners and frequent callers on WNAX radio sports quiz and won so many times they had to change the rules to give other callers a chance to win. He loved winning tickets to the MN Twins and was an avid baseball fan all his life.
At the age of 50, he began his running career and eventually ran over 15 marathons in Los Angeles, Hawaii, and Las Vegas. He loved to drive west and visit family, always relying on memory, maps, and questionable lunch meat to get him there.
After hearing Roger Whitaker's song "The Last Farewell," he wrote a poem about the suffering and resurrection of Jesus. It became his testimony in letters he wrote to many. Each of the 10 verses ended with "He loved me dearly, more dearly than any words could tell." He loved the Gospel of John and had deep concern that others would have a relationship with Jesus. Russ was a financially frugal man all his life, believing the real treasure in life was spending time with family and friends, and that all the gold and silver in the world wouldn't make up for the absence of Jesus in your heart.
Russ remained physically and mentally agile almost to the end. He walked 1.7 miles a day up until last February when he suffered a fall, resulting in a brain injury, stroke, and ultimately leading to his death.
Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Ann Lynn, daughters Evangel Wehrkamp (Paul Sickler) and Sarah (Randy) Hardick; grandchildren Bryana Henderson (Christian Przybylowski), Brittany Henderson (David Tollefson), Taylor Hardick, Whitney (Morgan) Wehrkamp, Bryan (Morgan) Wehrkamp, Ashley (Kyle) Hoffman, Kelley Wehrkamp (Tommy Barber), Amanda (Clint) Narveson; and five great-grandchildren: Layla Mitchell, Madden Norling-Wehrkamp, Claire Graham, Tinley and Bennett Hoffman; his sister Janice (Dick) Hanson, sister-in-law JoAnn Graham, and many nieces and nephews: Carol, Sharon, Georgia, Jody, Nancy, Mark, Lezlee, Dan, Dave, Kristi, Cindy, Karen, and David.
One of the great losses of his life was his granddaughter Lyndsey Dayle Wehrkamp on November 1, 2008. Two brothers, George and Roger; half-brother, Donald; and niece, Judy; preceded Russel in death.
[Source: Wass Funeral Home]
Russel Graham, 89, of Sioux Falls, formerly of Beresford, South Dakota died November 3, 2019 at Bethany Home in Brandon, SD. Visitation with the family present will be 5-7 PM Friday, Nov. 8, 2019 at Wass Funeral Home in Beresford, SD with a prayer service at 7 PM. Russel's funeral service will be 10 AM Saturday, Nov. 9th at Miller Southside Chapel, 7400 South Minnesota Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD 57108.
Russel Graham was born on May 10, 1930 on the family farm near Beresford to Myron and Jeannette (Anderson) Graham. Beresford was home until moving to Sioux Falls two years ago. He was a life-long farmer, as well as a rural mail carrier for many years.
Russ briefly attended college at SDSU, but his greatest thirst was for the Word of God. During three SD winters, he attended California Lutheran Bible School, where he met his future wife, Ann Lynn Arnold. They were united in marriage March 6, 1959 and blessed with two daughters, Evangel and Sarah.
Russel was a gentle man with a heart of gold; a man of prayer, faith and integrity. He loved the Word of God and studied it all his life. He treasured teaching high school Sunday School, attending and leading multiple men's Bible study groups. He frequently attended Holy Spirit Conferences, Promise Keepers, was a Gideon and volunteered for decades with the prison M2 Man program, mentoring and passionately sharing the message of Jesus.
Russ was a prolific writer and master storyteller with an immense vocabulary. He filled many notebooks and every piece of scratch paper he could find with his musings and memories, frequently contributing to publications and letters to the editor. He was an autodidact and a voracious reader of anything he could get his hands on. His recollection of intricate details in stories and events made listening to him an educational experience and usually resulted in the listener running for a dictionary. Russ and his brother were lifelong listeners and frequent callers on WNAX radio sports quiz and won so many times they had to change the rules to give other callers a chance to win. He loved winning tickets to the MN Twins and was an avid baseball fan all his life.
At the age of 50, he began his running career and eventually ran over 15 marathons in Los Angeles, Hawaii, and Las Vegas. He loved to drive west and visit family, always relying on memory, maps, and questionable lunch meat to get him there.
After hearing Roger Whitaker's song "The Last Farewell," he wrote a poem about the suffering and resurrection of Jesus. It became his testimony in letters he wrote to many. Each of the 10 verses ended with "He loved me dearly, more dearly than any words could tell." He loved the Gospel of John and had deep concern that others would have a relationship with Jesus. Russ was a financially frugal man all his life, believing the real treasure in life was spending time with family and friends, and that all the gold and silver in the world wouldn't make up for the absence of Jesus in your heart.
Russ remained physically and mentally agile almost to the end. He walked 1.7 miles a day up until last February when he suffered a fall, resulting in a brain injury, stroke, and ultimately leading to his death.
Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Ann Lynn, daughters Evangel Wehrkamp (Paul Sickler) and Sarah (Randy) Hardick; grandchildren Bryana Henderson (Christian Przybylowski), Brittany Henderson (David Tollefson), Taylor Hardick, Whitney (Morgan) Wehrkamp, Bryan (Morgan) Wehrkamp, Ashley (Kyle) Hoffman, Kelley Wehrkamp (Tommy Barber), Amanda (Clint) Narveson; and five great-grandchildren: Layla Mitchell, Madden Norling-Wehrkamp, Claire Graham, Tinley and Bennett Hoffman; his sister Janice (Dick) Hanson, sister-in-law JoAnn Graham, and many nieces and nephews: Carol, Sharon, Georgia, Jody, Nancy, Mark, Lezlee, Dan, Dave, Kristi, Cindy, Karen, and David.
One of the great losses of his life was his granddaughter Lyndsey Dayle Wehrkamp on November 1, 2008. Two brothers, George and Roger; half-brother, Donald; and niece, Judy; preceded Russel in death.
[Source: Wass Funeral Home]
Russel Graham was born on May 10, 1930 on the family farm near Beresford to Myron and Jeannette (Anderson) Graham. Beresford was home until moving to Sioux Falls two years ago. He was a life-long farmer, as well as a rural mail carrier for many years.
Russ briefly attended college at SDSU, but his greatest thirst was for the Word of God. During three SD winters, he attended California Lutheran Bible School, where he met his future wife, Ann Lynn Arnold. They were united in marriage March 6, 1959 and blessed with two daughters, Evangel and Sarah.
Russel was a gentle man with a heart of gold; a man of prayer, faith and integrity. He loved the Word of God and studied it all his life. He treasured teaching high school Sunday School, attending and leading multiple men's Bible study groups. He frequently attended Holy Spirit Conferences, Promise Keepers, was a Gideon and volunteered for decades with the prison M2 Man program, mentoring and passionately sharing the message of Jesus.
Russ was a prolific writer and master storyteller with an immense vocabulary. He filled many notebooks and every piece of scratch paper he could find with his musings and memories, frequently contributing to publications and letters to the editor. He was an autodidact and a voracious reader of anything he could get his hands on. His recollection of intricate details in stories and events made listening to him an educational experience and usually resulted in the listener running for a dictionary. Russ and his brother were lifelong listeners and frequent callers on WNAX radio sports quiz and won so many times they had to change the rules to give other callers a chance to win. He loved winning tickets to the MN Twins and was an avid baseball fan all his life.
At the age of 50, he began his running career and eventually ran over 15 marathons in Los Angeles, Hawaii, and Las Vegas. He loved to drive west and visit family, always relying on memory, maps, and questionable lunch meat to get him there.
After hearing Roger Whitaker's song "The Last Farewell," he wrote a poem about the suffering and resurrection of Jesus. It became his testimony in letters he wrote to many. Each of the 10 verses ended with "He loved me dearly, more dearly than any words could tell." He loved the Gospel of John and had deep concern that others would have a relationship with Jesus. Russ was a financially frugal man all his life, believing the real treasure in life was spending time with family and friends, and that all the gold and silver in the world wouldn't make up for the absence of Jesus in your heart.
Russ remained physically and mentally agile almost to the end. He walked 1.7 miles a day up until last February when he suffered a fall, resulting in a brain injury, stroke, and ultimately leading to his death.
Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Ann Lynn, daughters Evangel Wehrkamp (Paul Sickler) and Sarah (Randy) Hardick; grandchildren Bryana Henderson (Christian Przybylowski), Brittany Henderson (David Tollefson), Taylor Hardick, Whitney (Morgan) Wehrkamp, Bryan (Morgan) Wehrkamp, Ashley (Kyle) Hoffman, Kelley Wehrkamp (Tommy Barber), Amanda (Clint) Narveson; and five great-grandchildren: Layla Mitchell, Madden Norling-Wehrkamp, Claire Graham, Tinley and Bennett Hoffman; his sister Janice (Dick) Hanson, sister-in-law JoAnn Graham, and many nieces and nephews: Carol, Sharon, Georgia, Jody, Nancy, Mark, Lezlee, Dan, Dave, Kristi, Cindy, Karen, and David.
One of the great losses of his life was his granddaughter Lyndsey Dayle Wehrkamp on November 1, 2008. Two brothers, George and Roger; half-brother, Donald; and niece, Judy; preceded Russel in death.
[Source: Wass Funeral Home]
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