Mr. Norman Russell

It is with great sadness that we the family of Norman Stanley Russell announce his unexpected passing on August 15 / 16, 2022.   Norman passed away as he would have chosen in his sleep on the family farm with faithful dog, Opie beside him.

Norman was predeceased by his parents: Stan & Helen (Nellie) Russell; brothers-in-law: Ernest Hollingshead, Charlie Peterson and niece, Melissa Petersen.

He leaves to mourn his passing his sisters: Donna Hollingshead, Winifred (Winnie) Petersen and brother, Grant Russell.

Norman also had many nephews, nieces, great and great-great nephews and nieces.

When we were all younger, he would teach us all how to throw a ball, catch, and bat. Pull us on the sleigh or teach us of the birds and animals we may have come across the days spent with him. He also made the most unique Christmas presents and the Easter egg hunts were usually hidden throughout the whole farm barn yard.

Norman was born on August 24, 1940 in Battleford, SK to Stanley Arthur Russell and Nellie (Helen Lacey) Russell. He would be the oldest of four children.

Shortly after his birth the family moved to Vancouver for a brief period of time but Grampa realized this was not the place for his family and moved back to settle in the Prongua / Drummond Creek area. This was where Norman stayed and grew up with his family working alongside his dad and for many neighbour’s when the need arose. Norman refused to leave the land as this was his comfort place walking and driving many miles every day even up to the day of his passing, he was checking on cattle in the pasture and putting a few staples in the fence just to be sure his good friend Keith’s cattle stayed where they were supposed to.

Norman had attended the local country schools often being distracted by the boys playing ball or small fish in the creek. He did not further his education in Battleford, but he continued to learn. He read every magazine and book he could get his hands on and was able to strike up a conversation with anyone he met. He loved every animal and bird he came across; from cats, dogs, injured coyote that he nursed back to health, and it stayed in the bushes expecting his bit of scraps every day. Crows and Magpies that fell out of their nests, he would raise them to fly with him when he walked or take a free ride on his shoulder. Often talking to Norman outside, the chickadees would come land on his shoulder or ball cap chirping for some peanuts they knew he would have in his pocket. For many years growing up as kids we knew the farm as “Swallow Hollow” which was named due to the thousands of swallows that would migrate back to the farm under the protection of Norman’s 4-10 shotgun or 22LR. It seemed every post on the farm had a bird house made by Norman or his younger brother Grant and every building had the mud nests all around the roof overhangs.

He loved to tell stories and make up names as he went to see how far he could get away with it. When we were younger, he had stories of the Mugwamp creatures that lived in the woods and would steel children if they were out at night, this usually kept us in the bunkhouse or old house we were sleeping in and the odd bang on the wall to be sure of it.

Norman loved hockey and baseball. His favourite teams being the Toronto Maple Leafs and the New York Yankees; with this he could tell you any fact or stat on those teams. He wore his New York Yankees hat with pride. I had attended a major league ball game in Toronto and was able to get a Josh Donaldson autographed ball for him. He was happy with this gift but did have to mention with a smirk that Aaron Judge was hitting them out of the field; but he still put it out for display and wrapped it in plastic so it wouldn’t get dirty.

Norman rented out the farmland and pasture to his friend and neighbour, Keith Hoffman for many years up until his passing. I think they both looked out for one another in their own way.

In the later years I had more time to check in on him and start taking him to town and getting his “supplies “as he would call them. This usually included bird, dog, and cat food, some groceries and scraps for the animals and his favorite Copenhagen fine cut snuff.

He had a big sweet tooth so we would always bring him his gingersnaps, cookies, cakes, squares of some sort and some pies. These were always the first to go most times being blamed on Tony Schmidt, Keith, or Charlie stopping in LOL. We would always stop at his choice of McDonald’s, A&W, Burger King or KFC for lunch to go and we would sit in the parking lot feeding most of his French fries to the seagulls or gophers then saving some for the animals at home.

I always had great memories and fun times at the old family farm and feel very fortunate that my family and I were able to get to know Uncle Norman. As Norman would say “see you later, drive safe and I Love you but not in the strange way just the way relatives do.”

Your host capsule has passed on but your soul & spirit live on, now walk the unlimited land you loved so much and watch over us all.

I miss and love you Uncle Norman, but not in that strange way!

• Date : 2022-11-04
• Location : RM of Buffalo 409, SK