James Odell Renslow

James Odell Renslow, 81, of Moorhead, MN passed away on Wednesday, April 29, 2015 at home under the care of Hospice after battling cancer.

James Odell Renslow was born November 14, 1933 in Keene Township, MN the son of Bernhard and Ella Winjum Renslow. He was baptized and confirmed at Keene Lutheran Church and attended the country school in Keene Township and later Hitterdal High School.

He was employed at the Red River hatchery in Moorhead, MN for 2 years. In 1954 he was inducted into the army until 1956. While in the Army he attended the Army Electronics School and served in Alaska as a Radar Repair Technician. On June 8, 1956 he was married to Elaine Syverson at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Ulen, MN. He started to work at United Telephone in Langdon, ND. In 1960 they moved to Minot, ND and he worked for Souris River Telephone Co. in the Military Department. They moved to Victorville, CA in 1965 where he worked for The Continental Telephone Company as a supervisor for the toll and space communications at the Goldstone Tracking Facility. Later they moved to Rialto, CA. In 1970 they moved to Grafton, ND where he worked for Polar Communications as manager of the Safeguard Missile Site Communications and later as the manager of Viking Electronics and the Cable TV systems. He also owned Grafton Sportland from 1978 to 1986. After retiring from Polar in 1995 they moved to Little Cormorant Lake near Audubon, MN. For 10 years they were snowbirds in Mesa, AZ. James Odell and Elaine celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2006 at St. Peters Lutheran Church in Audubon, MN. They moved to Moorhead, MN in 2010 and became members of Trinity Lutheran Church.

James Odell was always active in every Lutheran Church that they belonged to as a Sunday School Teacher, Council member, Committee member and an usher. He belonged to several organizations such as the Jaycees, Park River Commercial Club, Lions Clubs, Little Cormorant Lake Association, Lake Eunice Township Board and the American Legion. He enjoyed several hobbies and crafts such as bowling, fishing, woodworking and he restored and rode snowmobiles. They also enjoyed traveling, including a trip to Norway.

They have 4 children, Steven Kim Renslow, Grand Forks, ND, JoLeen Dean Eklund, Detroit Lakes, MN, Bradley Bunny Renslow, Moorhead, MN, Todd Bekki Renslow, Boise, ID. Seven grandchildren, Andrew and Anthony Eklund, Megan and Morgan Renslow, Zachary, Savannah and Austin Renslow.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Bernhard and Ella Renslow.

He is survived by two sisters, Jean Willie Blauert, Moorhead, MN, and Eileen Harlow Hurley, Whittier, CA, and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Visitation: Monday, May 4, 2015 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Wright Funeral Home in Moorhead, MN with a prayer service at 7:00.

Funeral: Tuesday, May 5, 2015 at 11:00 am at Trinity Lutheran Church, Moorhead, MN.

Interment: Keene Cemetery, Hitterdal, MN

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to Hospice of the Red River Valley or Trinity Foundation, Trinity Lutheran Church in Moorhead, MN.