Wayne Randall

Wayne Randall, passed away at the Albuquerque VA Hospital on January 8, 2022 of natural causes.

Wayne Randall was born to Theodore and Mildred Randall on November 12, 1929 in Ft. Pierre, SD. He grew up in rural South Dakota until moving to Long Prairie, MN in 1940 where his parents farmed the land and raised livestock. A 1948 graduate of Clarissa High School, Wayne joined the US Navy serving on the USS St. Paul, USS Hickock and shore duty at Camp David, attaining the rank of Petty Officer, First Class. While stationed in San Diego, CA, he married Donna Mae Paulsen of Steen, MN on June 14, 1951.

After leaving the Navy, he completed his apprenticeship at Dunwoody Institute in Minneapolis and was a journeyman plumber for over 35 years. Being of an adventurous nature, Wayne and Donna sold all their belongings and immigrated to Australia in 1970, living on sheep stations in both South and Western Australia. In addition, they spent six months living on an aboriginal mission at Cundelee, Western Australia. Returning to the United States in 1973, Wayne settled in Laurel, MT where he resumed his plumbing career, working at Colstrip for the Bechtel Corporation as the General Foreman for the Plumbers and Pipefitters (UA Local 30). Wayne and Donna retired in 1990 to their 60 acre farm south of Long Prairie, MN until 2006, moving to Albuquerque, New Mexico. They were married for 59 years until Donna passed away in 2010.

Wayne enjoyed the solitude of country living, woodworking, gardening and traveling.

He is survived by a sister, Janice (Butch) Sykora of Minnesota; his children, Jerry (Kathy) Randall of Montana, Cindy (John) Hinson of New Mexico and Matt (Thuy) Randall of Minnesota. He was the grandfather of three (Joseph, Samantha, Alison) and great-grandfather of four (Stella, Timothy, Thomas, Maisie).