Russell Streefland, who was born on a farm in what became Burnsville and began his political career as the Lakeville Township clerk, became chairman of the Dakota County Board in the 1980s. He also was a Burnsville softball coach and an attorney who served on many boards, including that of the Academy of Holy Angels in Richfield.

Streefland, 75, died Monday at his Burnsville home from neuro-degenerative complications, according to daughter Jennifer Streefland Henry of Prior Lake.

"He was a strong leader," recalled Dakota County Attorney Jim Backstrom. He said Streefland helped prepare the county for rapid growth in the 1980s that made it the state's third most populous county.

"He had a passion for folks with mental health and disability issues and helped make that a priority that continues today," Backstrom said.

When Streefland joined the County Board in the mid-1970s, he was the first member from Burnsville, which started booming after Interstate 35W arrived in 1960 and Burnsville Center opened in 1977.

"He was an extremely bright man and worked well with other people," said Mike Turner of Burnsville, who succeeded Streefland in 1989 and attended the Streeflands' Catholic church in Savage. He said Streefland was a bit shy and liked to think things through.

"He wanted taxpayers to have good value for their dollars," Turner said. "He wanted to make sure people got a fair shake."

As County Board chairman, Streefland weathered a few controversies. One stemmed from his partnership with county administrator Fred Joy in 1980 to buy 14 acres near Interstate 35W in Lakeville. The Lakeville mayor, who was running for Streefland's seat, asked the board to investigate a possible conflict because Streefland helped evaluate Joy's performance and salary raises.

County Attorney Bob Carolyn found no conflict, but suggested the board consider adopting a code of conduct, the Minneapolis Star reported.

Streefland had a Burnsville law office and was active in Republican politics. But he was socially liberal, said his daughter, who recalled passing out his campaign literature in local neighborhoods. He pushed for serving mentally ill adolescents "in the community, not residential treatment centers," she said. His concern for the vulnerable influenced her to become a social worker, she added.

He coached his four daughters' softball teams and went to his sons' plays and events, Streefland Henry said. She remembered frequent one-on-one basketball games with her father after dinner and said he always had time to talk with his six kids and visitors, whom he loaded up with homegrown vegetables.

He was preceded in death by daughter Deborah Neubauer.

In addition to Jennifer, Streefland is survived by his wife of 50 years, Jeannette; two other daughters, Catherine Mohammed of Litchfield Park, Ariz., and Elizabeth of Minneapolis; two sons, Michael of San Francisco and Christopher of Burnsville; two sisters, Dolores Gerdesmeier of Lakeville and Cecelia Berres of rural Northfield, nine grandchildren and a great-grandson.

Visitation will be one hour before the funeral service, which will be at 11 a.m. Friday at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 4625 W. 125th St., Savage.

Jim Adams • 612-673-7658