Bruce Stangeland - Bushnell

Feb. 14, 1945 – Dec. 16, 2017

Posted

Bruce Russell Stangeland, 72, died Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017.  

Funeral services are at  10:30 a.m. Friday at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Brookings.  Visitation is from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday with a Liturgical Wake Service at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, at Rude’s Funeral Home in Brookings.  Graveside services are at 1:30 p.m Friday at Grandview Cemetery in Gary.  Rude’s Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements.

 Bruce was born on Feb. 14, 1945, in Hendricks, Minnesota, to Floyd and Ruby Stangeland. He grew up in Gary and attended school there. He graduated from Gary High School in 1963. On Feb. 19, 1966, he married the love of his life, Mary Fitzpatrick. 

They started their marriage in Blair, Nebrasksa, when they welcomed their first daughter, Renae. They eventually moved to Brookings and spent several years there and had their second daughter, Ronda. From there they moved to Bushnell and made their home to raise their children, and then welcomed their third daughter, Amanda.  In 1972, he joined the Bushnell Fire Department until they disbanded and he later became the mayor of Bushnell.

 He worked for the state Highway Department for many years. He worked construction his entire life building bridges, houses, and roads. He worked with Mills Construction and Prunty Construction in the Brookings area, until he retired. He loved to spend time in his workshop building things for his family. He also loved spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Bruce loved to fish, his and Mary’s many trips to the Black Hills, and the Minnesota Vikings. Bruce enjoyed talking to anyone and everyone and could never keep a secret. He always opened his home to everyone and knew how to make people laugh. 

 He was known as “Pa” or “Turkey Grandpa” because of all the wooden turkeys he made. He could fix anything and would spend time with his girls’ houses tinkering and looking around for projects. He also enjoyed his newly found hobby, Pinterest projects. 

 He is survived by his wife, Mary; three daughters, Renae Mills of Brookings, Ronda (Dennis) Buurman, of Brookings,  and Amanda (Brian) Brinkman of Harrisburg; seven grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and one due in 2018; his sister, Doreen (Larry) LaFramboise; sisters-in-law, Sharon Ratajczak, Patty (Curt) Hoseck, Margaret (Wendell) Asmussen; many nieces and nephews, and extended family. 

 He was preceded in death by his parents. 

 Condolences may be sent to the family through www.rudesfuneralhome.com.