Belton Russ Russell

Belton 'Russ' Russell May 9, 1920 - April 4, 2012

Belton H. "Russ" Russell, age 91, of Faribault, passed away on Wednesday, April 4, 2012 at the District One Hospital in Faribault. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 7, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. at Our Savior''s Lutheran Church in Faribault, with Rev. Joanna Mitchell, officiating. Family interment will be held at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis with military honors on Monday, April 9th. Visitation will be held at the Parker Kohl Funeral Home & Crematory in Faribault on Friday from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. and on Saturday for one hour prior to the services at the church. Members of the Faribault Eagles Club will conduct a memorial service on Friday at 6:30 p.m. Belton Holder Russell, the son of William and Minnie (Buntyn) Russell, was born May 9, 1920 and raised in Stratton, Mississippi. Following high school, Russ entered the service with the U.S. Army on March 16, 1942. He was a member of the Medical Corp and received his medical training at Camp Grant, Illinois. Russ served stateside at many different military hospitals between his service time overseas during WWII and the Korean War with stations at: Guam, Japan, Korea, Okinawa and Germany. Following his stay in Germany, he returned to Fort Hamilton Army Base for retirement on July 30, 1962. He was married to Myrtle Faehnrich on September 18, 1964. She preceded him in death on February 3, 1990. He moved to Faribault and started working at the Minnesota School for the Blind on October 1, 1962. He retired on July 30, 1982. Russ later was married to Norma Byron on April 7, 1997. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge, Scottish Rites, and Osman Shriners. He also was a longtime member of the Faribault Aerie 1460 Fraternal Order of Eagles, American Legion Post 43, and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1562. He is survived by his wife, Norma; daughter, Pat (Bruce) Hutchison and step-daughter, Cis Christianson of Waterville; daughter-in-law, Roxane Hollinger of Waterville; four grandchildren; seven great grandchildren; two sisters, Ann Dykes of Louisiana and Nora "Frances" Saum of Pennsylvania; brother, Mack (Marie) Russell of Mississippi; sister-in-law, Jean Russell of Mississippi; and many other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; brother, Jack Russell; and step-son, Jon Hollinger. Memorials may be directed to the American Cancer Society in memory of Russ.