Page 30 - November 2020 WCA Ketch Pen

In Loving Memory of Milton C. Russell
Milton C. Russell, age 88 entered into rest on October 12, 2020 at Prosser Memorial Hospital. He was born in Conrad, Montana and raised and educated in Dayton, Washington graduating in the class of 1949 from Dayton High. In 1951 he enlisted in the US Army and was stationed in Germany and Poland. Milton loved the Army and often mentioned how he wished he had re-enlisted.
After his discharge Milton lived and worked in Ritzville where he met his first wife Norma Borgens. They had three children
together; Pamela Sue, Vickie Lynn and
Monte James. In the early 1960’s
they moved to Pullman, Washington
where Milt was on staff in the
Animal Science Department. Milt
spent the next decade in Pullman
as the Shepard of the WSU sheep
center. He enjoyed working
with the students, teaching Wool
Science and Sheep Management.
Every spring Milt taught many
students to shear sheep, offering
them an opportunity to shear
professionally the many flocks
in eastern Washington. When
Mt. St. Helens erupted in 1980
two student shearing crews
were off campus shearing sheep,
leaving them unable to get home
to Pullman for a full week. But the
sheep got sheared.
Milt became a popular judge at many
fairs and Jr. Livestock events. He enjoyed
quietly teasing and visiting with the young exhibitors in his easy-going manner. He was also instrumental in the early development of the Columbia Sheep breed, as a state and regional inspector.
As budget cuts forced the closure of the WSU Sheep Center, Milton took charge of the WSU Cattle Feeding Laboratory as Herds Manager. Milton was meticulously tidy, and kept the feed alleys swept to a polished finish. If you needed to find him, all you had to do was listen. He was usually whistling one of his favorite tunes, with his Border collies close by.
December 30 1978, Milton married Colleen Rogers. They had two children while in Pullman: Conrad Brady and Chelsea Christine. In 1983 the couple moved their
family to Prosser to the WSU Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center. There Milton was again the Herds Manager, overseeing many large cattle feeding studies with Dr, Wilton Heineman. Most years 1200 head of cattle would go through each feeding trial. In time the cattle feeding trials came to an end and the
facilities became home to the WCA Bull test, which Milton managed for
the next 13 years before his retirement. Milton was rarely
without something to do. He and his family farmed as
well. They ran 80 pair of Polled Hereford cattle, 100
head of Suffolk sheep and raised fine alfalfa hay. Milt also loved to tinker on his
tractors, as long as they were John Deere green.
Most recently Milton was proud to be the first
breeder in Washington State of registered Black Hereford cattle.
Milton was a member of The Washington
Cattlemen Association as well past president of the
Benton county Cattlemen’s Association. He was also a
member of both the Idaho and Washington state Wool growers, as
well as VFW.
Milton loved his farm, family and faith and especially loved tinkering on his antique farm equipment.
Milton is survived by his wife, Colleen of Prosser,
his children, Pamelan Stice (Mike) of Pullman, Vickie Holzmiller (Vincent) of Otis Orchards, Washington, Monte Russell (Shelly) of Renton Washington, Conrad Russell (Desiree) of Prosser and Chelsea Schilperoort (Gerrit) of Sunnyside, thirteen grandchildren, five great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Milton was preceded in death by three brothers, four sisters and his parents.
A memorial was held on Saturday, October 24, 2020 at the Patriot Barn at 1:00 pm at 22236 N. Hinzerling Prosser, Wa. with military Honor Guard.
November 2020
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