Alvin Russell

Broken Bow- Alvin Russell age 87 of Broken Bow, died Wednesday March 19, 2014 at the Jennie Melham Medical Center in Broken Bow.  Funeral services will be held on Saturday March 22, 2014 at 10:00 AM at the United Methodist Church in Broken Bow with Rev. Todd Karges and Chaplain Steve Shanno officiating. Burial will be in the Ansley Cemetery with Military Honors. Visitation will be held on Friday, March 21, 4 PM to 7Pm at the United Methodist Church with the family greeting friends 5 PM to 7 PM. Memorials are suggested to the Custer Care Center in Broken Bow.  Alvin E. Russell went home to be with the Lord and re-join his beloved wife, Nina, on March 19, 2014. Alvin was born June 23, 1926 at his family farm house near Ansley to Charlie and Bertha Russell.  He was the oldest of three boys; brothers Don and Wendell. He attended a one room school in Algernon, Nebraska grades 1 through 8 where ”rain or shine” he walked the 1.25 miles to and from school.  He graduated from Ansley High School. After high school he enlisted and served two years in the U.S. Army during the latter part of World War II. He met the love of his life, Nina (Samp) at a dance in Ansley.  He was a “very good dancer” as several of the local ladies would attest! Even though she “stood him up” on their first date, they were married March 9, l947.  Unto this marriage was born three daughters, Barbara Cramer (Dennis) of rural Broken Bow, Becky Lawrence (Gary) of rural Alliance, and Nancy Scheidies (Randy) of rural Minden, Nebraska. Alvin was a hard worker all of his life, milking cows, raising pigs, corn, wheat, alfalfa and Holstein steers.  (He could tell if a steer had pneumonia just by looking in its eyes!)  He rented two different farms before buying a place east of Broken Bow.  He built a home, a steel building, fences, and a strong family! Alvin enjoyed restoring 2 cylinder John Deere tractors from rust to “spit shine”.  He liked going all over the country to John Deere sales, shows and parades.  He thoroughly enjoyed showing off his tractors in local parades throughout the summer months.  One year in the Custer County parade, he and Nina and all three daughters each drove a John Deere tractor that he had restored.  He also enjoyed competing in the tractor slow races at the county fair. He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, uncle, farmer and friend.  He was always willing to lend a hand to those who needed one.  He was forthright and honest and a handshake sealed the deal for him. He had strong values and lived by them. His wife, parents, one brother, Don, and a granddaughter Nikki preceded him in death. He is survived by one brother, Wendall Russell (Marion) of Massachusetts, his daughters and their spouses, six grandchildren, Tami (Joel) Kershner of Hastings, Todd Cramer of Manhattan, Kansas, Kent Shaw (Lisa) of Broken Bow, Brian Lawrence of Alliance and Whitney Stone (Tim) of Kearney, and eleven great grandchildren.