Russell Smith

Russell Smith, age 88, of Wheaton, Minnesota passed away Wednesday, March 2, 2016 at his residence in Wheaton under the care of Rice Hospice.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday, March 7, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at Ave Maria Catholic Church in Wheaton with Fr. John Paul and Fr. Stanley Wieser Celebrants. Organist will be Cindy Sanasack with special music provided by the Ave Maria Catholic Church Choir.

Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Cemetery in Montevideo, Minnesota. Honorary urn bearers will be Fr. Stanley Wieser, Ron Schoephoerster, Ken Amann, George Sawyer, Bill and Marvel Buchholz, Tracey Raguse, Marvin and Pat Bach, and Carol Sailer.

Visitation will be held Monday morning at the church from 10:00 a.m. until service time at 11:00 a.m.

Russell Caryl Smith was born August 7, 1927 in Canova, South Dakota to Robert Caryl and Mary Margaret (Neidert) Smith. The family moved to Beresford, South Dakota when Russell was in the first grade. He attended school in Beresford until eighth grade when the family moved to Mason City, Iowa for two years where his father was trained to be a roadmaster. The family moved to Redfield, South Dakota where Russell graduated High School in 1945. While in Redfield the Milwaukee Railroad Depot trained Russell so when he graduated from High School Russell began working on the railroad for a year before being drafted into the US Army. After his service Russell attended two years of college at Huron College in Huron, South Dakota. Following his education Russell returned to the Railroad as a depot agent and operator.

While working for the railroad Russell lived in Redfield, South Dakota, Pierpont, South Dakota and Montevideo, Minnesota where he met Joanne Iverson. The couple married on April 14, 1953 and enjoyed sixty-two years of marriage before Joanne passed away October 29, 2014. Russell and Joanne continued to follow Russell's work living in Correll, Minnesota, Waubay, South Dakota and finally moving to Wheaton, Minnesota in 1965. When the Milwaukee Train Depot in Wheaton closed Russell commuted to Ortonville, Minnesota, Wahpeton and Fargo, North Dakota often living in small apartments and coming home only on the weekends until he was offered a severance package and retired after thirty years at age 58 in 1985.

Russell enjoyed golfing and was a member at Wheaton Country Club for nearly 50 years. He played last year and only quit when he could no longer see the golf ball. He enjoyed playing billiards weekly with his pool buddies for many years. When he was younger he enjoyed hunting, fishing and traveling. Russell also wrote poetry.

Russell taught catechism at Ave Maria Catholic Church and both Russell and Joanne donated their time to the American Cancer Society driving people to medical appointments and delivering meals on wheels. Russell was the president of the Knights of Columbus while living in Waubay, South Dakota.

Russell is survived by his daughter Kim (Dennis) Vagt of Valley Springs, California; one son Terry Smith of Minneapolis, Minnesota; one sister Janice Eddy of Sioux Falls, South Dakota and one brother Jerry (Carla) Smith of Willmar, Minnesota.

Russell was preceded in death by his parents, wife Joanne, son Todd Smith, and brother Donald.