Russell Lee White was born November 6, 1926 to Robert and Helen (Bird) White in Prairie Township, Fremont County, Iowa.
At an early age, the family moved to a home 2 and ½ miles west of Shenandoah on old Highway Two. One day he rode his tricycle down the drive and onto the highway going east to town. He started school in Morningstar County School west of that house. That schoolhouse is now in the Shenandoah City Park with his name in the registry. In 1934 they moved to a farm 5 and ½ miles southeast of Randolph. He attended Hampton Country School through eighth grade. He often walked up to a mile and a half to school. He attended the Randolph High School and graduated in 1944--still walking a mile and a half but in the other direction. He grew up about a mile and a half from his grandparents, Elbert and Margaret Bird. Grandpa Bird taught him to hunt and bought him his first gun--a 22 rifle from Sears and Roebuck. Russell and his faithful dog Chubby spent many hours hunting in the nearby timbers.
He was united in marriage Marjorie Arline Malcom on January 11, 1945 in Sidney, Iowa.
Enlisted in the US Army on April 9, 1945 and reported to Fort Riley, KS on September 19th, 1945. He was stationed at Camp Fannin, TX until he was shipped out headed for Japan where he served as part of the Occupation Forces Japan. He was discharged on November 8th, 1946.
Upon his return from military service, he worked for several farmers in the Randolph area. He also worked for Faye Kempton at the John Deere store in Randolph. He later worked at Earl May Seed and Nursery and the MayWay Hatchery. In April 1951 he began working for Shenandoah Airways at the airport. Russ and Kenneth Moles installed the first runway lights at the Shenandoah Airport. In 1958 he joined Dale Welchans in a spraying service and formed Shenandoah Flight Service Inc. In 1959 the company had a chance to purchase the business at the airport which they did. Russ was the only licensed pilot so he was kept very busy. He left aviation and began working at Imperial, Inc where he worked until 1974 (serving as their pilot and later as plant foreman).
In 1974 Russ went to school in Texas to get his training as an airplane mechanic and came home to work at the Shenandoah Airport. In 1979 Russ and Marge began White Aviation, Inc. which was in business at the Tarkio, MO airport until his retirement in 1996.
Russ was a member of the American Legion and a prior member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Assocaition (AOPA).
From an early age, Russ wanted to learn to fly and he did just that after returning from his military service in Japan. He later got his commercial and instructors ratings. Later years, he took up photography and built his own darkroom in the basement.
The White home has undergone many changes over the years due to Russ's skills--a garage and carport were added and in 1964 the family began digging the basement themselves. Russ laid the cement blocks himself and built an elevator to load the dirt from the basement to the backyard. He built new kitchen cupboards for Marge and did an entire kitchen for a neighbor. In 1975 the family added onto the house with Russ doing most of the finish work. He later helped Judy with her home in Omaha. He built furniture for the family as gifts.
Preceded in death by his parents; grandparents, aunts, uncles and son-in-law Marvin (Del) Wolfe. Those left to cherish his memory include his spouse, Marjorie of Shenandoah, IA; daughters Connie Wolfe and fianc Dale Vose of Alma, NE; Judy (Bill) Christian of Wichita, KS. Grandchildren: Brian Wolfe of Kearney, NE; Brad (Becky) Wolfe of Alma, NE; Allysia (Keegan) Hughes of Altus, OK and Myriah Christian of Lincoln, NE.