Russell Maynard Ivers

Russell Maynard Ivers, 89, passed away May 7, 2025 peacefully at home. He was born on February 23, 1936 to Floyd Maynard and Irene Salinda (Harriger) Ivers in Peru, Nebraska. He lived there until he was 7 years old. His family moved to Washington State where his father came to work for the Hanford Project. They lived on an Asparagus farm in Benton City, then moved to Richland in 1945. He was proud to be a Richland Bomber (’55).

He worked for the Forest Service in Oregon for 3 years. After that, he worked for Boeing where he met his lifelong friend, Walt Campbell. Walt then introduced him to the love of his life, JoAnn Sells. They were married on May 14, 1960. Together they had two children, Lori Aldrich and Dwight Ivers.

He worked for Boeing for about 13 years until the layoffs. He then went to work for Shasta Pop and after that, Moorefight Fire Extinguisher. During his time at Moorefight, he became a manager. The company was then sold to United States Helium. When the company went bankrupt in California, he was able to buy the company here in Washington and changed its name to Compressed Gas Western. He and his wife, with a few good workers, ran the company for 35 years, until they finally retired and sold it. During that time, he also purchased and ran Pacific Commercial Pallets.

He loved the great outdoors. He hunted for elk and deer every fall. He had a motorboat that he used for waterskiing, fishing and camping on islands in the Puget Sound. Where we were once stranded during a low tide after we woke up in the morning. He also raced go-karts for a few years traveling around the state.

In order to spend more time outdoors with family and friends, Russ and JoAnn purchased property at Sky Meadows in Cle Elum where he would camp every summer with his family, his neighbors the Frankos, and many other friends. He rebuilt a VW bug into a dune buggy that he toured many mountain and logging roads with his family. He learned to ski after his daughter began to ski. He skied with his family for a few years until he started snowmobiling. This became a big passion for him that he has passed down to his family. He bought a cabin in the Teanaway to snowmobile in the area, spending many weekends exploring the woods and trails with his wife, kids, grandchildren and eventually watching his great grandchildren learning to snowmobile there.

They bought a condo on the Island of Maui where they spent a lot of time enjoying the sun, sand, snorkeling, watching whales, and seeing the sites. He and JoAnn enjoyed taking their grandkids on special grandparent trips. They even took their whole family on a weeklong Christmas trip to the Island of Hawaii in 2019.

He loved being a grandpa, or affectionately also known as Grumps and Gramps to Matthew (Stephanie), Russell (Rebekah), Nicholas (Alyssa), Timothy (Stephanie), Lucas (Taylor), and Steffanie (Ethan Short) Aldrich and Kyle and Amanda Ivers. He loved to take them on motorhome trips, snowmobiling, hiking and other fun adventures. He traveled with them across the United States and even took a week trip to Yellowstone to snowmobile in the winter.

Almost 13 years ago he was promoted to Great Grandpa and was affectionately known as Gapa by the youngest. In order they are Lucy, Caroline, Jaziel, Ariel, Finn, Augustus, Gabriella, Ellie, Jameson, Sam, Woodrow, Colt, Nathaniel, Bennett, Emery, Pearl and Rosemary (born 2 days after he passed).

He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Luana Portch and Kaye Ivers, and brother Bruce Ivers. As well as many other aunts, uncles and cousins.

He is survived by his wife, JoAnn, of 65 years, on the day of the burial, his two children, Lori Aldrich and Dwight Ivers, his 8 grandchildren, and 17 Great-grandchildren.

Services will be held at Renton Bible Church, 973 Union Ave, Renton, WA 98059, 5/14/2025 @ 11 AM viewing, 12PM service and burial at 2PM Greenwood Memorial Park, 350 Monroe Ave NE, Renton, WA 98056.

In lieu of flowers, Russ’s wish was that a donation be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html?dedication=2&sc_icid=honors-lp-donate-bttn-top&express=0&product_code=MCGLHNENAAllOccHope&frequency_selected=0

Feel free to wear a Hawaiian or Flannel Shirt and Jeans.