Duane L. Kjensrud, 68, of Halstad, MN, died Monday, June 22, 2015 at Sanford Hillsboro Care Center, Hillsboro, ND after a battle with cancer.

Duane was born June 21, 1947 to Palmer and Anna (Beiswenger) in Fertile, MN. He attended Fertile High School and graduated in 1965, and later attended tech school in Fargo. He married his loving wife of 47 years, Sharon on February 24, 1968, in Halstad. They moved to the Minneapolis, MN, area where he had worked for Toro as a machinist for 10 years. In 1979, they had moved back to Halstad where he drove semi for Held Beef Industries out of West Fargo, ND. He helped area neighbors with farming before going back to work as a machinist for Dee, Inc in Crookston, MN. In June 1996, he went to work for Northern Valley Machine in East Grand Forks, MN and helped the company grow to where it is today. After being diagnosed in May 2014 with cancer, he was forced into retirement.

Duane used to semi-pro drag race when he lived in Minneapolis. He held the National record for E-Stock for one and one half years. He liked to custom build engines and restore old cars. He raised horses and loved spending time with family and his grandchildren. He liked to golf and fish when at the lakes and is well known for his witty sense of humor.

Duane is survived by his wife, Sharon; son, Michael (Pam) Kjensrud, Tamuning, Guam; daughter, Sheri (Scott) Eberle, West Fargo, ND; and 5 grandchildren, David and Robert Edwards, Alexis, Sonja and Chase Tomaszewski; brother, Paul (Brenda) Kjensrud, Eureka, MT; sisters, Inez (Eugene) Lange, Circle Pines, MN and Mary (Terry) Buringrud, Tower City, ND; many nieces and nephews and we cannot forget his loving dog, Spanky. Duane was preceded in death by his parents, Palmer and Anna, an infant daughter, and his sister Kathy.

Memorial Service: 2:00pm Saturday, July 11, 2015 at Fredrikson-Ganje Funeral Home, Halstad, MN.

Visitation: 5:0-7:00PM Friday, July 10, 2015, at Fredrikson-Ganje Funeral Home, Halstad, MN.