In Memory of SGT Cody Lee Randall
October 11, 1991 – April 3, 2020
“Cody Lee Randall was a very accomplished young man! At just the age of 28, he was a son, a brother, a grandson, a husband, a dad and a friend. He loved to make people laugh and when he walked into a room, you knew he was there, by his amazing smile or his everlasting energy. As a young boy, he started school in the enrichment program and always had good grades. From around the age of 5, he developed his love of video gaming. Before he could even read, he was figuring out strategies to get through games. He even entered gaming competitions and won game systems and other game related items. He became interested in computers, which led him to working in communications in the Army. He also, recently, built his own computer, which he completed shortly before he died. In recent years, he developed a love for brewing beer and even won an award for one of his beers. He loved to hunt and fish. As a teenager, his stepdad took him deer hunting, which would lead to several years of going to “deer camp” and hunting the elusive buck! Deer camp always included viewing the movie, “Escanaba in the Moonlight” and we all frequently heard quotes from the movie…the most used, being, “Deerhunting is like Christmas with Guns”!! He loved music, singing….loudly and dancing around the room! After graduation, he entered the Criminal Justice program at Central Lakes College in Brainerd, MN. At 7 credits short of graduating, he quit to join the Army. As a mom, I was so disappointed, but he found a new direction with the Army. He knew what he was doing, just found this in a roundabout way. I was so proud of all of his accomplishments in the Army!
He had so many goals and was working hard to achieve them. He loved his family! His wife, Kelsie, his daughter, Parker and his dog, Archer! At one point, he dreamed of living in Alaska and that dream became reality 3 years ago. Upon actually living there, he found that it was not the place he wanted to be and was working toward moving back to the lower 48 states, hoping to be in Florida or possibly Colorado. He wanted to get into the space program with the Army and wanted to retire from the Army.
But Cody was not without issues. We were all so unaware of his mental health issues. There were little to no signs. He was the one who always tried to make people laugh and wanted everyone around him, happy, and yet, he was the one who lacked self-esteem and was hurting. His confidence around people was admirable, and yet he really lacked confidence in himself. He was accomplished in many areas in his life and yet he never felt worthy. What people saw on the surface, was not who he was. There was a terrible storm brewing inside of him. When Cody was young, he went through a period in life of being overweight. Although he eventually lost all the weight, it never left the image he had of himself. He was so incredibly handsome, had the most amazing blue eyes and the smile that lit up a room, but he was hurting. This caused him to do things he would immediately regret. But it was like he could not control his actions and this eventually led to him ending his life.
It is my prayer that people remember Cody for his love of life and for the love he had for his friends and family. I am so proud of all he accomplished in his 28 years of life. I just wish he knew how much he was truly loved and now how much he is desperately missed. Because of the Covid pandemic, we were forced to wait over 4 months to find closure and finally pay tribute to and honor my son’s life. At his Celebration of life, his sister, Kalli, paid tribute to his life with so many wonderful stories about him. She loved her only sibling and misses him so much. Many others got up to tell stories and between laughter and tears, his life was truly celebrated!! With many wonderful volunteers from the American Legions and VFWs, my son was finally laid to rest with the military honors he deserved!!” Shared by Cody’s mother, Vicki
On April 3, 2020 Sargent Cody Lee Randall passed away at his home in Wasilla, AK. Cody was born to
Mike Randall and Vicki (Tank) Randall on Oct. 11, 1991 in Houston, Texas. He moved, with his family, at
the age of two, to his mother’s hometown, of Brainerd. He graduated from Brainerd High School in
2010. After graduation, Cody attended Central Lakes College, in the Criminal Justice Program. On March
of 2013, Cody enlisted in the United States Army, as a Satellite Communications Systems
Operator/Maintainer. He attended Basic Training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina and Advanced
Individual Training at Fort Gordon, Georgia. SGT Randall has served as a Tactical Satellite Systems
Operator/Maintainer and most recently as the tactical Satellite Systems Team Chief for 2nd platoon, C
Co, 307th ESB of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Richardson, Alaska. His assignments include B Co 86th
Expeditionary Signal Battalion at Fort Bliss, Texas and C Co 307 Expeditionary Signal Battalion at JBER,
Alaska. SGT Randall’s military education includes Basic Leader Course, Army Space Cadre Phase I and II,
Parts Record Clerk Course and Field Sanitation Team Certification. His awards and decorations include
the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal (3OLC), Army Good Conduct Medal,
National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer
Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon and Drivers/Mechanic
Badge. Cody was loved by everyone who knew him. He always had a smile or happy and kind words for
anyone he encountered. He loved to make people laugh. Cody’s passions were video gaming, brewing
award winning beer and his 5 year old daughter, Parker and his wife, Kelsie. Cody will be desperately
missed by his wife Kelsie (Magnuson) Randall, daughter Parker, mother Vicki Randall and stepfather Bill
Musel, father Mike Randall and stepmother Margaret Randall, sister Kalli Randall and fiancé Dave
Badeaux, grandparents Clayton and Eve Robinson and step grandmother, Beth Tank. Cody is preceded in
death by his grandparents Bill and Virginia Randall and Grandfather Wayne Tank. A Celebration of Life,
with Full Military Honors, for SGT Cody Lee Randall will take place on August 9, 2020, 1:30, at The Eagle’s
Healing Nest, 310 US Hwy 71, Sauk Centre, MN. The family asks for anyone, attending and interested, to
feel free to get up and share a favorite story about Cody. In lieu of flowers, the family requests
donations are made to The Eagle’s Healing Nest.
States Cody called home: Texas, Minnesota and Alaska
