Russell O. Erickson

Russell O. Erickson, 73, of Havre, passed away on Saturday, April 20, 2013, at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, Wash., of congestive heart failure.  Cremation has taken place, and memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, May 3, 2013, at First Presbyterian Church in Havre with Pastor John Chapman officiating.

Committal services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 4, 2013, at Hillcrest Lawn Mausoleum in Great Falls. Holland & Bonine Funeral Home has been entrusted with services and arrangements, and you can leave your memories and condolences for the family at http://www.hollandbonine.com.

Rus was born on Nov. 3, 1939, in Havre, and was raised in Fairfield, Mont., to O.W. and Ruby (Charlton) Erickson and raised in Fairfield, graduating from Fairfield High School.  He grew up on a farm and had a horse. His mom always said that Rus was not real tall, but he sat tall in the saddle.  After high school, Rus attended Montana State College in Bozeman for a year before marrying Janice Boule. Following his marriage, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, and he and Janice were sent to Fort Marmouth, N.J., where Rus attended a microwave communications school. There he received his orders to service in Europe, and he took his wife to Verdun, France, where he served for two years and toured Europe with Janice. Following his discharge from the Army, Rus worked for Montana State Telephone and Telegraph in Billings for a year and then accepted a position in Havre as a test board man. He worked for the company for 30 years, retiring in 1995 as a sub foreman. Rus also worked as an independent contractor for Storm Water Construction for several years. He and Janice remained in Havre, where they raised their two daughters, until his death.

Rus and Janice owned a rental business, wherein they owned eight rentals of their own and managed property for others, which they were still doing at the time of his death.

Rus was very proud of his family.  A few days before his death, he stated that he had the best wife in the world, two exceptional daughters, nine terrific grandchildren, and two amazing great-granddaughters. He had no regrets and he was at peace with the Lord.

Rus was a member of First Baptist Church, president of the local Eagles Club for a year, vice president of the statewide International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers union for several years, and taught a class in electronics at Montana State University-Northern for two years.

Rus earned his pilot’s license and bought a share in a four-passenger Cessna plane, where he spent many happy hours with his family flying around the state.  He was a master craftsman and was very proud of the beautiful home he built west of Havre. He obtained a trapper’s license and enjoyed trapping along the Hi-Line for several years.  He enjoyed camping, hunting, fishing, and building things. There are numerous mounted trophies that Rus bagged while hunting.

Rus was preceded in death by his parents, Wally and Ruby Erickson.

He is survived by his wife, Janice of Havre; his daughters, Glenda Jane (Mark) Knudsen of Malta and Laura Lynn (Darrell) Powell of Spokane; his nine grandchildren; two great-granddaughters; his sister, Marilyn (Jim) Ployhar of Great Falls; his two brothers, Joe (Bonee) Erickson of Ulm and Sid (Janet) Erickson of Helena; and numerous nieces and nephews.