Russell Wellington Pierce

Both his parents emigrated from England to join other family members and to settle on a large homestead on Ross Road, in the community of Mount Lehman. There Russ grew up with his parents and two sisters, Ruth and Annie, and other family members.

Russ’s family is deeply rooted to the early history of European settlers in Mount Lehman. The name Pierce is found on several gravestones at the local cemetery, and Russ made provisions for himself and his loved ones to be interred there when the time came. He is predeceased by both sisters. In his 90th year, Russell was recognized as a founding member of the Mount Lehman community by the MSA Pioneers Association.

As Russ grew up on the 50-acre mixed farm, he learned many of the practical life skills that served him well, and which he would pass on to his kids.

Russ attended Mount Lehman Elementary School, left school in Grade 9, and set about learning how to operate bulldozers to build logging roads, which he did for 43 years. During the Second World War, he was a Home Guard as the only son of a farmer.

Russ was a self-made, self-directed man who valued common sense and straight-forward people. He began to learn his trade as a bulldozer driver while a teenager, carving logging trails and clearing land and farms out of the forests and logged landscapes. Russ enjoyed the trade, and he was proud of his long stint as a Cat driver and was proud of the work.

Like many unrestrained men of his era, Russ preferred to be outside any day of the year.

Through necessity, he learned a lot of things, such as rebuilding motors and machines in the wilderness. Working at times in coastal areas and on islands, Russ taught himself to operate a boat in some of the most challenging water on B.C.’s coast. He ran a remote logging camp and land clearing business, including operating a remote logging camp for 12 years, accident free.

Russ loved gardening, and took pride in cultivating a massive vegetable garden and putting away its various produce for winter days. He’d be disappointed if he couldn’t find the giant Hubbard squash seeds!

As a child, Russ learned to run horse teams to plow the fields, harvest the hay and other work. He was a member of the Back Country Horsemen Association, and in later years, he helped the organization re-open the Hudson Bay Company Heritage Trail in the Coquihalla Canyon.

He enjoyed taking his family out to the wilderness, to the uncivilized places beyond the cities and towns, camping or even living in remote places.

Throughout his life, Russ was an avid hunter, a skill he taught his sons, in particular middle son Wayne. In fact, he took his last hunting trip at the age of 86 to the northwest end of Willingston Lake in B.C. He spent long hours walking the trails with Wayne, reflecting on life. Even when he didn’t bag anything, he enjoyed the beauty of nature around him, the grand vistas, and the camaraderie of hunting companions.

Russ married three times: with Gladys, he had four children – Arthur, Judy, Wayne and Brian; and through a later marriage, adopted Susie. In 1987, Russ married Mila, and adopted her son Richard. Russ and Mila spent the last 35 years together, doting on each other.

Russ liked to have a good time. He enjoyed a good turn around on the dance floor, a wonderful pastime he shared with wife Mila. He enjoyed great cooking – simple fare was fine as long as it was tasty – and sharing good meals with family, friends, and folks down the road he didn’t know.

Russ also enjoyed warm places: later in life with Mila, he travelled internationally. They went to the Philippines three times with Mila, to see her family and tour through the country. He was thrilled to be able to pluck fresh mangoes and sip from coconuts he picked himself. On one trip, Russ took solar panels out to one of Mila’s relatives who lived in the remote areas.

Russ collected many, many stories of his experiences over the years, which he loved to share with family and friends, stories coloured by his famous sense of humour and story-telling skills.

Above all, Russ was a charitable man and had a lot of empathy for the down and out, and for those with challenges. He will be deeply missed, and remembered with great love and fondness by his family and old friends.

Rest in a well-deserved peace, Russell.

A memorial service for Russell will be held Monday, January 16, 2023 from 1:30 PM at Army Navy & Air Force Veterans Hall, 30346 McNeil Avenue, Abbotsford, BC V4X 1V5.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.woodlawnfh-abbotsford.com for the Pierce family.