JAMES PAUL RUSSETTE SR. Obituary

James Paul Russette Sr., 75, of Rocky Boy, died Dec. 2, 2009, in Great Falls, Mont.

A wake is under way at the Rocky Boy Catholic Church. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 9 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 5, 2009, at the church with burial to follow at Rocky Boy Cemetery. He was born Nov. 9, 1934, in Fort Belknap, Mont., to Mike and Helen (Champagne) Russette. He served his country in the U.S. Air Force from 1952 until he was honorably discharged in 1954. He met and later married Bernice Ruth Meyers in 1964 at the Rocky Boy Catholic Church. James was employed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, was a heavy equipment operator as an oiler and was a mechanic. He enjoyed baseball and fishing and spending time with his grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Bernice Ruth Meyers Russette; her seven brothers, five sisters; two daughters; seven grandchildren and one great-grandson. Survivors include his daughters and their husbands, Ruth (Lyman) Wolfchief of Rocky Boy, Deanna (Udall) Gibson- Thoreau of New Mexico, Dale Marie Russette of Duck Creek, Kyla Valdez of Dry Fork and Janna Lea Chavez and Kristy Chavez both of Duck Creek; his sons and their spouses, James Paul Russette Jr. Of Wyoming, Dean (Venita) Russette of Bonneauville, Wesley (Renessa) Russette of Lame Deer, and Donald (Sarah) Russette of Idaho Falls; his sisters, Pauline Russette of Rocky Boy, Erma Racine, of Browning; his brothers Calvin Russette of Rocky Boy; 28 grandchildren; 70 greatgrandchildren; and one greatgreat- grandson. Holland & Bonine Funeral Home of Havre has assisted the family in arrangements.