Russell Hawkins obituary Billings
The following was copied from the April 2, 2000 Billings Gazette obit archive.
Russell Hawkins was born Oct. 31, 1919, in Spring Grove Township, Wis., to Robert and Hazel (Marsh) Hawkins. He was the fourth of five children. Russ was called home to be with the Lord on March 31, 2000, at Saint Vincent Hospital in Billings, Mont.
Russ served as a Sergeant with the 502nd Parachute Regiment, 101st Airborne Division in the European Theater from Nov. 6, 1941 to April 12, 1945, receiving a purple heart for injuries received in Holland. Upon his return, Russ married Verla Meinert. Russ and Verla spent the next six years operating a family farm in the Davis, Ill., area. In 1951, Russ and Verla moved to Boulder, Colo. Russ worked as a policeman in Boulder for 12 years, including four years as a Detective Sergeant. He took over management of the Lazy VV Ranch in Boulder on Dec. 18, 1964, and retired from that position on Jan. 18, 1985. Russ and Verla moved to Billings at that time to be with family. Following his retirement, Russ worked for Dr. Don Woerner at Laurel East Veterinary Clinic.
Russ is survived by his wife, Verla; his daughter, Betty and her husband, Paul Miller; his son, Gail and his wife, Gloria, all of Billings. He is also survived by five grand children, Heidi (Miller) and Todd Swenson of Bismarck, N.D., Grant and Keri Miller, Russ and JaLynn Hawkins, and Martha and Rebecca Hawkins, all of Billings.
Russ Hawkins was a member of Mount Olive Lutheran Church. He loved the Lord, his wife, family and his country. He will be missed by many.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Tuesday, April 4, at Cremation or Funeral Gallery, 29 8th Street West. Visitation will be from 1 to 3 p.m., Sunday, April 2, also at Cremation or Funeral Gallery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Saint Vincent Hospital and Health Center Nursing Education Fund or Mount Olive Lutheran Church.