Anita Marcella Russell

On April 11, 1925, Anita Marcella Olson was born to Anton and Stella Olson in Bristol, South Dakota. She was the eighth of 9 children. Her six older brothers called her "sister", a name the stuck, even after sister Maryann was born six years later.

Anita graduated Bristol High School in 1943. She married Herbert Sjerven on May 29, 1943. She moved to the Sjerven homestead a few miles from Bristol. Over the next four years, Herb and Anita had three children: Julie, Raymond and Glenn. Glenn was a special needs child. Decades later, Anita would say that he had severe autism, but the diagnosis did not exist at that time. The Sjerven family later moved to Bristol where Anita was surrounded by her parents and several siblings who lived in or near Bristol. In 1957, Anita and Herbert moved to Mount Vernon, WA near sister, Maryann and brother, Chris who had already moved to the Pacific Northwest. In time, Anita and Herbert divorced.

She worked at Bames Bakery selling bread, pastries and coffee. As it turned out, she met her future husband while working there. She said, "Cecil would come into the bakery to buy food and visit with her until he finally asked her out on a date." She married Cecil Russell August 17, 1964 and moved to the Camano Island beach home at Utsalady Point. They blended their children, grandchildren, siblings and friends into one. The Russells were frequent hosts to children, neighbors and friends. She welcomed everyone with open arms and would always be sad to see you leave. The island home would be a fun place for many years. They enjoyed fishing, digging clams, boating, crabbing and bonfires. She was an active member at Camano Island Lutheran Church. She took part in an outreach program for a young child who lacked the ability to crawl and needed patterning. She was excited about the child's progress and took joy in helping.

Anita was always up for adventures and was happy to take cross country trips with her sister, Maryann, or wherever the wind may blow. Anita and Cecil lived for a brief time in Alaska. She loved to visit family and friends and embraced being active. She was proud of her Norwegian heritage and made certain that her family kept the tradition of lutefisk and lefse for Christmas dinner.As the years passed, Cecil became less able to enjoy the fun parts of living on the beach. In 1989, they sold the beach home and purchased a home in Marysville. They enjoyed a good life together until his death in August 1997.

Anita sold the Marysville home in 2000 and purchased a condo in Edmonds. She created many happy memories and loved visits from family and friends. Maple Park Lutheran became her new church home. She lived in her condo for 14 years before she moved to assisted living. On her 90th birthday, she was totally surprised with a BIG party. She treasured the memories of that day the rest of her life. After a fall caused a major injury, she moved to Crista SNF where she lived three years until her death on November 29, 2019. Anita was a woman of deep faith in Jesus as her Savior...her faith sustained her and her daily prayers for us were treasured. She was a loving daughter, wife, mother, grandmother and friend who loved unconditionally. She would never give up on you even if you deserved it.

Anita is preceded in death by her husband, Cecil Russell, her son, Glenn Sjerven, parents Anton and Stella Olson, six brothers, and two sisters. She is survived by her three children, Julie Johnson (Richard), Raymond Sjerven (Mikey) and stepson, Gary Russell (Joann), 11 grandchildren, 25 great grandchildren and 7 great-great grandchildren. AND many special nieces and nephews.