Russell Walter Sr.

Russell James Walter Sr., 71, died of natural causes on Oct. 24, 2011, in Kalispell.

He was born Jan. 31, 1940, in Kalispell, where he attended school. He married Bobbie Verrall and settled with the family in Coram.

Russell served in the Navy aboard the USS Hancock and worked 37 years at the Columbia Falls Aluminum Co. plant.

He's survived by his wife Bobbie; son Russell Walter Jr. and wife Sheryl, of Kalispell; daughters Cheryl Walter, of Auburn, Wash., and Mary Winters and husband Bill, of Lake Tapps, Wash.; siblings Pat Valentine, of Buckley, Wash., Barb Peiper, of Whitefish, Dave Walte,r of Hungry Horse, Sam Walter, of Maple Valley, Wash., Loretta Gordon, of Dalton, Ill., Jen Powell, of Martin City, Kathy Vollmer, of Puyallup, Wash., Polly Walter, of Conway, Alaska, and Les Walter of Proctor; 12 grandchildren; and six great grandchildren.

A celebration of life took place at the family home in Coram on Oct. 29, 2011.