Russell Baldwin Gottenborg

Russ passed away on March 26, 2015 in Denver, Colorado, at the age of 93. He was preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, Dorothy Marie Arneson Gottenborg. He is survived by his four children, Sara Gottenborg and David Gottenborg, both of Denver, Mary Gottenborg of Pleasanton, CA, and Susan Bomberg of Peoria, AZ , as well as by six grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. Russ was born on December 20, 1921 to the late Baldwin Gottenborg and Cora Weum, in Audubon, Minnesota. His youth was spent in Havre, Montana, and upon graduating from high school, he worked in the Civilian Conservation Corps. During WWII, he served his country proudly as a bombardier in the China-Burma-India theater, and continued his military career as an officer in the U.S. Air Force. He met his wife, Dorothy, at the Lutheran House at the University of Minnesota, and they later married in Reykjavik, Iceland. After being stationed in Oregon, England, Italy, Texas, Michigan and Pakistan, he and his family settled in Denver in 1967. While working at the Air Force Accounting and Finance Center, he earned a Master of Public Administration Degree from the University of Colorado. Once his military service ended, he worked at the Denver Museum of Natural History and later, with the Rocky Ford, CO school district. He was a loving father and devoted husband, whose interests included rose gardening, being an active church member, celebrating his Norwegian heritage, traveling, learning foreign languages, listening to his wife play the piano, and reading many daily newspapers and journals. He was a truly unique, intelligent man with a quick wit and articulate speech, an abiding love of nature and learning, a gentleman's manners, great attention to detail, and deep pride in his family. He will be dearly missed and lovingly remembered. A memorial service in his honor will be private. His internment will be in his birthplace, Audubon, Minnesota, next to his wife. In Russ's honor and remembrance, kindly support the Alzheimer's Association and Augustana Lutheran Church. Share memories of Russ and condolences with his family by visiting the Guestbook link below.