Dr. Neil Barry Hensrud

Dr. Neil B. Hensrud, 84, passed away peacefully in his sleep on January 22, 2025, at the Minnesota Veterans Home in Minneapolis, where he lived for just a few months. He resided with his wife Faith in their home in Plymouth, Minnesota, for the previous two years. Neil was born in Grand Forks, North Dakota, on October 25, 1940 to Ingman (Sparky) and Adelaide (Brusegaard) Hensrud and was the oldest of three boys (brothers John and David). He completed his bachelors, masters and doctorate degrees from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks. He has been married to his wife Faith for 35 years and together they raised two children. He and his former wife Margaret (Berge) Hensrud, with whom he shared 26 years, raised three children.
A man of faith, he was active in the church. A longtime member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Lake Nebagamon, Wisconsin, he was active in the Trinity Quartet and he helped to finish a 2500 sq ft addition to the sanctuary alongside other volunteers, completing the project debt-free. After relocating to Bemidji, Minnesota, he was a champion for the Lutefisk dinner at First Lutheran Church.
Neil was blessed with a lengthy career, and when asked what he did for a living, he would say, "There wasn't much I didn't do." Neil served as an Armor Officer in the United States Army and his initial assignment was to the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment in Kaiserslautern, Germany. After that, he returned to the states where he served in several reserve units before being recalled to active duty as Assistant professor of Military Science. After a brief assignment in Virginia, he served in the US Army Reserve, primarily as an instructor trainer, until retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel.
During his early career, Neil lived in Milner, North Dakota, where he taught high school social studies and drove the school bus. After he returned to Grand Forks in 1967, he completed his PhD and briefly taught at UND. He developed a KOA campground; was a real estate agent; and owned a recreational-vehicle business and several rental properties. While living in North Dakota, he served as a member of the state House of Representatives, the Grand Forks City Council, and was a Grand Forks county commissioner. His claim to fame was having the Smiley Face painted on the water tower. "Smiley" grinned down on Grand Forks from the 1970s to 2009, when the water tower was dismantled.
His career continued in Wisconsin where he served as Director of the Small Business Development Center and professor of business at the University of Wisconsin - Superior. He retired from the university in the early 2000s. Following his retirement, he found a new career in property development, purchasing and developing a subdivision and numerous town homes in Lake Nebagamon. He continued his political career serving on the board of the Village of Lake Nebagamon and then as the village's president.
Neil was an avid aficionado of classical music and he loved to sing. His passions included barbershop, and singing with the Trinity Lutheran Quartet, Duluth Superior Symphony Chorus, the Bemidji Chorale, and First City Singers. He was active in the Lions, Elks, Masons, and numerous collector-car clubs. He had several collector cars over the years, and when asked how many cars he owned, he quipped, "One more than my wife knows about!" His favorites were Studebakers and Packards, and of course his 1967 blue Corvette.
Neil and Margaret (Berge) had three children, Kaaren (Carol Hubbard) Hensrud, Konnie (Cameron) Aplin, and Kenn (Bobbi) Hensrud. Neil and Faith (Harjala) had two children, Christine (Aaron) Widmer, and Joshua Hensrud. His seven grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren brought a smile to his face and made him very proud. He was always ready to listen to the dreams and aspirations of his children and grandchildren and liked to offer advice, whether they took it or not.
Neil was preceded in death by his parents, and his sister-in-law Carol (Fedje) Hensrud. He is survived by his wife Faith; former wife Margaret; his five children; seven grandchildren, Kris, Kylee, Kodee, Kahnnor, Keeton, Alice, and Miles; three great grandchildren, Cana, Callyn and Carl; and his brothers John (Sharlene) Hensrud and David (Linda) Hensrud, along with numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
While he battled a form of atypical Parkinsons (Progressive Supranuclear Palsy) in his later years, he remained steadfast in his faith and love of family, as well in a hope for a cure. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to one of the following: CurePSP; the Parkinson's Foundation; or the Struthers Parkinson's Center in Golden Valley, Minnesota.
Neil's Celebration of Life will be held on Monday, February 3, 2025, at 11 a.m. at the Washburn-McReavy Funeral Chapel, 2300 Old Shakopee Road, Bloomington, Minnesota. We invite you to join family and friends for a visitation one hour prior to the service. Luncheon will follow. As an Army veteran and retired Lieutenant Colonel, Neil has the great honor of being interred at Fort Snelling National Cemetery. Those who are interested may follow the procession to the cemetery and we will arrive there at 1:30 for a 1:45-2:00 p.m. ceremony with military honors and a committal service.
Thank you to the staff of Synergy Home Care, Park Nicollet Methodist Hospice, the Minneapolis Veterans Home, Grace Hospice, VA Healthcare, and the Struthers Parkinson's Center for your wonderful care and compassion.
Neil's service will be live streamed. Access to the live streaming can be found on his obituary page on the www.Washburn-Mcreavy.com website.