Russell Grant Lovegren

Russell Grant Lovegren, age 88, of Monticello, MN died on May 2, 2023. He was born on February 27, 1935 in St. Paul, MN to Olaf and Rachel (Vatne) Lovegren.

Russ graduated from Harding High School in St. Paul in 1953 and McPhail School of Music in Minneapolis in 1957. He served in the US Army from 1957-1959 and often recounted tales of his time stationed in Würzburg, Germany and traveling throughout Europe on a shoestring to anyone who would listen. He spent his career teaching hundreds of children the fundamentals of music, of which over 25 years were in the St. Michael/Albertville school system. After retirement he continued sharing the joy of music in private lessons with his grandchildren, enjoying concerts with his wife Carol, and forcing his children to listen to “just this part” of various big-band jazz selections. In addition to music, Russ enjoyed both short “scoots” and long trips to South Dakota and New York on his Harley-Davidson motorcycle with his brother-in-law Bill and local motorcycle buddies. He built a family cabin with his sons in Akeley, MN, where the family shared in his love of waterskiing, boating, and snowmobiling, and spent an unfortunate amount of time fixing motors and restoring old boats.  He defied age and reason when he (slowly) summited Black Elk Peak in SD (elevation 7,242 ft) at age 79.  Over the past twenty years, he enjoyed traveling with his wife to Connecticut to visit their daughter, as well as to Puerto Rico, Mexico, Sedona, Block Island, Maine, Cape Cod, Washington, DC, Charleston, New York City, Boston, and Nantucket. 

Russ will be remembered for his dry sense of humor, his enjoyment of a good blizzard, and an over-flowing 3-car garage. He instilled in his children the importance of never letting the gas gauge dip below half, enjoying the works of Stan Getz, and always having chocolate in the freezer.

Russ is survived by his wife of nearly 50 years, Carol, his sons Eric (Amy) Lovegren and Aaron (Deb) Lovegren, all of Monticello, and daughter Meghan Lovegren (Andrew Knott) of Hamden, CT; six cherished grandchildren: Mason, Emily, Colin, Brecken, Edie, and Rollie—ages 21 to 2; treasured “Empty Nesters”, nieces and nephews; and many friends. Russ was preceded in death by his parents, sister Nancy, brother-in-law Ed, and nephew Grant Lewandoski.

A memorial will be held at a later date. In lieu of money, the family requests tribute gifts in Russ’ name to the Minnesota Orchestra. Please see the link below under DONATIONS.  

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