Robert Edwin Russell

Robert Edwin Russell, 94, passed to his rest, Monday, June 27, 2011 at home in Gering, NE surrounded by his family. His funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, June 30, in the Dugan-Kramer Funeral Chapel in Scottsbluff. Interment will be in West Lawn Cemetery in Gering. A memorial has been established to Valley View Adventist School. Friends may call at the funeral home between 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Wednesday. Robert was born at home September 16, 1916, in the Nine Mile community east of Scottsbluff, where his grandfather and father had homesteaded. He attended 10 grades of school at Nine Mile School, 11th grade Scottsbluff High School, and graduated in 1935 from Shelton Academy, at Seventh-day Adventist High School, in Shelton, Nebraska. It was at Nine Mile School that he met Myrtle Fleharty and courted her until they married in Kimball, NE, October 19, 1935. To this union two sons were born, Ronald and Roger Russell. For the first two years, Bob and Myrtle worked for several farmers in the area, picking corn, feeding cattle, and other work opportunities. In the fall of 1938, the family moved to a farm southwest of Gering. Bob was employed to feed sheep; he then stayed on as hired man. A few years later he began his farming career. This farm on Cedar Canyon Road was to be their home for the next 55 years. In 1993, they moved to their north farm on Roubidoux Road where they resided until June 5, 2011 when they moved into Gering to be near family. The Gering Valley was to be home to Bob and Myrtle for over 73 years. They lost their son Roger July 11, 1986; he continued to mourn this loss until the end of his life. Bob loved to fly and was known as the flying farmer by neighbors who watched him land and take off from his hay fields. He loved to talk about his flying and regaled anyone who would listen of his adventures. He also loved his years where he financed his farming hobby (his comment) by working as call orderly at the Regional West Hospital for over 18 years. It was only due to age and poor health that he sadly retired. He dearly loved his time serving others through his hospital work. Bob and Myrtle celebrated 75 years of marriage October 19, 2010. Family and friends honored them with a reception at the Gering Civic Center. He was a life-long member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and also a member of Scotts Bluff Lodge #201 AF & AM. Survivors include his wife Myrtle, son Ron and Joy Russell, Gering; grandchildren: Anita and Scott Busby, Loveland, CO; Gary and Laurie Russell of Centralia, MO; Alane and Tom Britt of Lincoln, NE; Jim Russell, Gering, NE; Jerry Russell of Gering; and Jeff Russell of Gering; brothers-in-law: Richard Fleharty, Sterling, CO and Bernard Fleharty, Pocatello, ID; 11 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren. Preceding Bob’s death were his parents, two brothers, two sisters and son Roger.