Russell E. Schrupp

Russell E. Schrupp, age 89, passed away on Sept 9th, 2023, from complications following surgery.

Memorial services will be held on Saturday, Sept 23 at 2 pm at United Methodist Church Detroit Lakes, MN, family visitation at 1PM. In lieu of flowers, donate to UMC of DL in his memory.

Russell was born March 4th, 1934, to Earl and Helen (Hesselgrave) Schrupp of Swanville MN.

Later that year the family left the farm in Swanville and moved to Motley, MN. Russell and his siblings grew up in Motley and he graduated from Motley High School in 1952. He attended Brainerd Junior College, graduating in 1954. He joined the US Army, serving in Germany, for two years.

Following service, Russ married the love of his life, Barbara J. Galligher of Motley on Oct 27, 1956. He enrolled in St. Cloud State University and graduated with a degree in Social Work in 1960.

Thus began a career working with various agencies including Parole and Probation, followed by the Community Action Program in the Bemidji area. Russ developed a tradition of volunteering for civic groups that continued for the rest of his life. Some of those in Bemidji included the Methodist Church, Toastmasters, Bemidji State College Wesley Foundation, County Council on Youth and board member of Northern Pines Camp.

In 1968 Russell was asked to start a new organization called Rural Minne-CEP. It involved moving to Detroit Lakes which would become his home for the next 55 years. He spent the rest of his working life with CEP, developing it into an organization that served thousands from nine communities in Minnesota before retiring in 1992. The DL area also benefited from Russell’s knowledge and enthusiasm for civic duty through his work for numerous organizations as he served as board member or a volunteer for Kiwana's International, Hillside 4-H club, Becker County 4-H Council, DL Boys and Girls Club, Operation Christmas, Emmanuel Nursing Home and many more.

Russell was very active in the United Methodist Church, serving on many committees over the years. He was chairman of the Building Committee of the current church and the addition to the church 17 years later. He sang in the choir for 41 years and was involved in many other church functions.

Russell is survived by his wife of 67 years, Barbara, sister Beverly (Harold) Erickson of Carrington, ND, sisters-in-law Rae Lorene Schrupp of Monticello, MN and Mavis Galligher, two sons, Todd (Jean Riedy) of Milbank, SD, Troy (Eliza Deery) of Gilford, NH, and daughter Tracy (Leland) Johnson of Coon Rapids, MN. Nine grandchildren, Melissa, John, Adam, Rebecca, Jack, Tessa, Cal, Anna and Emma and seven great grandchildren.

Russell was preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Helen, brother Bud, sisters Betty and Kathleen (both died in infancy), sister-in-law Pat (Galligher) Frisk and brother-in-law Ronald Galligher.