Russell Harold
Russell Harold, 71, of Kalispell passed away peacefully on Nov. 15, 2012, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center after a long, courageous fight with heart disease that started in 1985 and his recent diagnosis with lung cancer in September of 2012.
He was born April 13, 1941 in Ottawa, Ill., to Dale Harold and Evelyn Stillwell. He spent his childhood years in Ottawa and also attended high school there.
Russell served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam conflict as a Ranger, Special Forces. Upon returning home he worked his early adult years driving truck out of Nebraska, then moved to Canada, finally settling in the Flathead Valley in 1982 where he met and married his wife, Kelly. He drove truck in the valley until his health no longer allowed him to.
Russell enjoyed working on automobiles, but was most passionate about the classic Corvette, of which he helped restore many.
He had a tender affection for animals, especially his dog Brandy and numerous stray cats. Russell shared a special bond with his birds. He had a cockatiel, cockatoo and an African grey parrot. Gizmo, the African grey, was quite fluent and sounded very much like Russell.
He enjoyed ice fishing, camping, holidays and family gatherings. He also loved working with wood and could fix just about anything. He truly was a man among men, a jack-of-all-trades, a friend to so many, and never hesitated to lend a hand. It was not uncommon for Russell to give the coat off his back, a child a car seat, help a stranger or give a meal to a family in need.
In November of 2011, after multiple heart surgeries, he was sent to the University of Washington Medical Center where he received an left ventrical assist device. An LVAD clinic was created in the Flathead Valley in order for Russell to be able to return home to his family in April of 2012. Because of his bravery and willingness to go through this intense process and surgery, he helped pave the way for other LVAD recipients, young and old, to be able to come home to the Flathead Valley.
His favorite activity, just before his passing, was to go and sit down at the river by the Old Steel Bridge with his wife.
He was preceded in death by his father, Dale Harold; his mother, Evelyn Stillwell; his sister, Barbara Wolfe; his son, Roger Otterstein; and his grandson, Cody Joe Flanigan.
He is survived by his wife, Kelly Harold, of Kalispell; children, Sabrina Reynolds and her spouse Jerry, Denise Csikasz and her spouse Miki, Russell Otterstein, Jerry Richard, Marcia Richard and Shawna Allery; brother, Butch Harold and his spouse Cheri; grandchildren, Bailey Reynolds, Dallas Reynolds, Dillon Reynolds, Russell Flanigan, Amanda Flanigan and Jennifer Muir and Nicholas Otterstein; plus numerous great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews.
Memorial services will be held at the Christian Center in Kalispell on Dec. 7 at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to American Heart Association.
Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for Russell’s family. You are invited to go to www.jgfuneralhome.com to view Russell’s guestbook, offer condolences and share memories.