Russell E. Axtell

CORVALLIS - Russell E. Axtell, 69, of Corvallis passed away Friday, February 20, 2015. He had just finished checking the cows with a horse between his knees and a rope in his hands. He was born January 13, 1946 in Conrad, MT to Paul and Laura (Newkirk) Axtell.
- Russell moved from Ronan to Corvallis when he was 13 years old. He enlisted into the U.S. Army in 1965 and served until his honorable discharge in 1967. Russell met and married Joan Tate Craun in 1974 and together they raised 5 children.
- Russ and Joan ran a custom haying business and operated a dairy. Russ worked for Harry Day on a certified seed potato farm and cattle ranch in Stevensville Montana and also worked in the oilfield in eastern Montana and North Dakota. He also raised cattle, horses and mules. Russ was a heavy construction worker and farmer and rancher all his life. He loved the outdoors, when his children were growing up he would take all 5 of them on a week long trip up in the mountains. One summer he took his three year old grandson Shawn on a three week long pack trip up Sleeping Child. The grandchildren loved spending time with their grandfather whether it was hunting or camping getting wood up in the mountains or helping their grandfather butcher to help provide food for the table. Each and every one of his descendants will tell you that everything they know about work or horses is credit to Grandpa. Russ was affectionately known as "gramapa" to his family. A great friend and neighbor he was ready and willing to lend a hand or hoof to any who asked. Russ felt more at home on the back of his horse or mule than anywhere. He always had a big garden. The highlight of Russ's life were the five kids, ten grandkids and 3 great grandkids.
- Russ was preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Laura Axtell. He is survived by his wife Joan; his children, Rande and Randy Colston, Maurice and Susan Craun, David and Kelli Craun, Patty and Rooster Gallup and Buryle and Jerry Williams; sisters, Polly Scheffer and Faith Winkler and husband Mike; brothers, Barry Axtell and wife Elaine and Wayne Axtell and wife Jane; 10 grandchildren, Maurice James and wife Sarah, Candace, Fred, Gregor and wife April, Dillon, Shawn, J.W., Paul, Sarah and Austin; 3 great-grandchildren, Maurice, Taryn, Collin and one on the way; special friends, Dick and Marilyn Manny; his faithful dog, Buddy; and many nieces and nephews.
- - In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorials be made to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Hamilton.