Russell (Russ) Allen Hecht, son of Wilfred and Sara Mildred (Headley) Hecht, was born into this world on the family farm in rural Welcome, Minnesota on August 29, 1938. On November 22, 2024, he passed from this world, lovingly wrapped in the arms of his family at home. While we wanted to keep him forever, his calling came at the age of 86.
Following his graduation from Sherburn High School, Russ was united in marriage to Mary Jane Linn of Estherville on October 17, 1959, at the Salem Lutheran Church in Jackson, Minnesota. He enjoyed his new important title of “Dad” when their first baby, Kathy, was born in Estherville. Russ and Mary Jane lived briefly in St Paul, Minnesota where his title of “Dad” grew with the birth of Jeff and Becky. The couple moved back to Estherville to make their home. He worked briefly at Fareway before beginning a 37 year career at Estherville Sand and Gravel. Fun fact: It was important to Russ that there was a pile of sand in Estherville so that all families could fill their kids’ sandboxes for free. Russ simply adored kids. It was also during this time that his title of “Dad” doubled from 3 to 6 with the family additions of Greg, Brian, and Shelley. Following a first retirement, he exchanged working with sand to working with sanders and sandpaper to pursue a love for furniture refinishing and collecting antiques. Their interest grew larger, so Russ and Mary Jane opened Highway 9 Antiques and ran “the shop” for 25 years where they met the most wonderful customers who became lifelong friends. Following a second retirement from this antique business, the couple moved to Spirit Lake.
Russ was a member of the Estherville Lutheran Church. He had a passion for hunting and trapshooting. He spent many hours, again making lifelong friends, at the Izaak Walton League and trapshooting competitions across the state. His children have fond memories of going to these meets to watch. Russ enjoyed music from a young age. He played the harmonica and guitar, listened to country western, bluegrass, and polka music… and could whistle like no other! As a young man he and his mom won first place at the Jackson County Fair performing a harmonica and organ duet. He continued to enjoy playing harmonica privately with his family, gifting many harmonicas as Christmas presents and teaching kids how to play. Russ shared his talent for woodworking and construction, even assisting his son, Brian, in building a new home. He consistently modeled for his children and grandchildren how to have a strong work ethic.
Playing ping pong, pool, card games, dominos, watching the Iowa Hawkeyes, and squirrel watching were things Russ and family truly enjoyed doing together on a regular basis. Every Christmas for the last 44 years, Russ and his daughter, Shelley, held the tradition of picking out the family tree. The tree went up early this year with lights turned on brightly.
Russ is survived by his wife, Mary Jane of Spirit Lake (celebrated 65 years of marriage in October), his children Kathy (Kevin) Zinn of Lake Park, Jeff Hecht (Crystal Nissen) of Estherville, Becky (Bill) Hanson of Riverside, Greg (Molly) Hecht of Estherville, and Shelley (Kevin) Miller of Spirit Lake. He left a loving legacy of 15 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother Ken (Diana) Hecht of Grants Pass, Oregon, and sisters-in-law Mary Hecht of Jackson, Minnesota and Donna Hecht of Sherburn, Minnesota.
Russ was preceded in death by his parents, Wilfred and Sara Hecht, his stepmother, Wilma Hecht, his son Brian Hecht, and brothers Robert, Richard, and Bill Hecht and sister Shirley Boyer.
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