Bruce Elwin Russell

Bruce Elwin Russell joined his Savior Jesus on February 22, 2025 at home in Berthoud Colorado. Bruce was preceded in death by his parents, and his sister, Carol Perkins. He is survived by his wife, DonnaLee, daughters Erica, Christy, and Nikki, sons-in-law Memo and Nathan, his grandchildren Felina, Gabriel, Roman, Maddie, Quincy, Christopher, and Charisse, his granddaughters-in-law Ilse and Marleigh, and his great grandson on the way, Elijah Elwin.

Bruce was born on February 6th, 1945, to Nicholas Floyd Russell and Vevah Fern Clapp in Spokane Washington. He graduated from Kootenai High School in 1962, while working at the family sawmill in Harrison, Idaho. He met the love of his life, DonnaLee, and they were married in California on August 19th, 1966. He continued his education at the University of Idaho, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in 1968. He simultaneously completed the ROTC program, becoming a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Air Force, serving during the Vietnam War. After the military he went to work for professional race car driver, Dan Gurney, at All American Racers, racing formula cars in his spare time. During their time in California, they welcomed daughters Erica and Christy. He decided to move the family to Oregon to pursue a career designing sawmills, shortly afterwards opening his own mechanical engineering company. When their third daughter, Nikki, was born, he was baptized into the Lutheran faith together with her.

Three years later the Holy Spirit led him to pursue the ministry, moving the family to Fort Wayne, Indiana to attend the Lutheran Seminary in 1978. In 1980 he took his vicarage in Menomonie, Wisconsin, where he became known as the Quicker Vicar due to his continued love of speed and fast cars! He graduated with a Master of Divinity at Concordia Theological Seminary in 1982. He was called and ordained to a Missouri Synod missionary-at-large church in Niwot, Colorado.

Pastor Bruce Russell faithfully served at Divine Savior Lutheran Church, the church he founded, from September 1982 to September 2013, 31 years. During that time he designed and built a geodesic dome, his wife and daughters working by his side, and volunteered as a police chaplain for the Longmont Police Department. In his limited free time, he enjoyed dogs, singing in choirs, scuba diving, sky diving, playing fetch with dogs, rooting for the Broncos, camping, and loving on his dogs. Did we mention that he loved dogs? He continued his passion for cars by building, repairing, researching, shopping, and zipping around town in them, earning him the new title of the Faster Pastor!

Bruce started showing signs of dementia as early as 2011, officially being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2020. As a result of the early symptoms of dementia, he decided that retirement from the ministry was the best way to protect his flock. As he declined, the family determined to take care of him in the comfort of his own home. He never forgot the name of his beloved wife of 58 1/2 years, DonnaLee, who faithfully cared for him, never leaving his side. In his last hours, God blessed his entire family with the opportunity to administer God’s Word together through Song, Prayer and Scripture, until his last breath.

As our father and pastor concluded every sermon with, quoting from Paul, “Now may the peace of God, which passes all understanding, guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus unto life everlasting. Amen.”