Mildred L. Russell

Obituary for - Mildred Louise (Erickson) Russell   (THE SERVICE WILL BE LIVESTREAMED VIA FACEBOOK AT BACHELOR-FAULKNER-DART SURBER FUNERAL HOMES) 

(Courtland) – Mildred Louise (Erickson) Russell, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, age 90, departed this life peacefully, surrounded by her family at home, on February 10, 2022.  Mildred, daughter of Edward and Esther (Anderson) Erickson, was the youngest of 12 children, and was born November 16, 1931, rural Courtland. Mildred graduated from Courtland High School in 1949.

Mildred was united in marriage to Carl Chester Russell on April 1, 1951 and they enjoyed 67 years together until Chester’s death in January 2019.  They were blessed with four children, Mark, Stephanie, Jon and Darin.  Mildred was a life-long member of the United Methodist Church in Courtland.  She was a homemaker and assisted with the family farming operation all her married life.  Mildred lived her entire life in the Courtland community.

In the mid 1960s, Mildred decided to “bake cakes” as a hobby and source of extra income to support the family.  Countless people enjoyed her beautiful and flavorful cakes at weddings and anniversary and birthday celebrations in the Northcentral Kansas area.  Family friends and relatives would say: “I doubt there is anyone in Northcentral Kansas who hasn’t enjoyed Mildred’s cake.”  This became her expression of art and a “labor of love” for relatives, family friends and community members, totaling hundreds of cakes and spanning 40+ years.  She was very conscientious not to charge too much and always looked for bargains on her “cake and mint supplies,” while keeping her established “quality standards.”

Mildred was her kids’ and grandkids’ biggest fan, cheerleader and prayer warrior.  She loved spending time with family and extended family at holidays and family gatherings and just about any reason to visit.  She especially enjoyed her grandchildren and great grandchildren in recent years – attending their academic and sports activities, school programs, graduations, weddings, baptisms and church activities.  She was a prayerful woman and often prayed for safe travel, blessings and protection for both immediate family and extended family, as well as friends and neighbors.

Mildred was active in the Methodist Church and the Courtland community.  She was a member of the Courtland Methodist Women and was a part of a Courtland Methodist quilting group for several years.  She was also a member of Homemaker’s Club and “Chataway Club.”

Mildred and Chester enjoyed trips to Branson, Nashville, the Rose Bowl and to visit family in Idaho, Oregon and Washington.  They especially enjoyed a rare plane trip to Hawaii, planned by her brother.  She was a loyal K-State fan as well as KC Royals and Chiefs.  She enjoyed KSU basketball games starting in the early 1970s, football games over many years and attending bowl games with family in Texas and California.  She was a sports fan in general and went to many Cloud County T-Birds basketball and baseball games and in recent years most often could be found watching “a ball game” on TV any day of the week.

Mildred was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and her eleven siblings and their spouses.  Her eleven siblings and their spouses were: Norman (Otie) Erickson, Dorothy (Erickson) and Kenneth Tucker, Dale (Eileen) Erickson; Eldon (Margo) Haney, Bryce (Lois) Haney, Roy (Shirley) Haney and Elva (Haney) and Frank Greenwood (and Ray Penn); Lorine (Erickson) and Clarence Aspegren, Carl (Blanche) Erickson, Hugo (Gladys) Erickson and Leonard (Delema) Erickson.  Mildred was also preceded in death by brothers-in-law and sister-in-law: Jim Russell, Phyllis (Russell) and Bill Mahin, Gene Russell, Ralph Sothers and Ron Sothers, and nieces and nephews.

Mildred leaves behind to mourn her passing: son Mark (Paula) Russell, Courtland, daughter Stephanie (Shelby) Kuhlman, Salina, son Jon (Lisa) Russell, Courtland, and son Darin (Krista) Russell of Manhattan; Nine grandchildren: Stephen (Samantha) Russell, Garrett Russell, Natalie (Jade) Barta, Kyle (Katie) Kuhlman, Elizabeth (Blake) Lundgrin, Jordan, Jaxon and Ashleigh Russell, and Jared Russell; and ten great-grandchildren: Addison Green-Russell, Alena and Ransom Russell, Nyah, Dylan and Karson Barta, Maxwell, Wade and Maci Kuhlman, and Kash Henderson; as well as sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Verlee Russell, Joanne Russell, Beverly Sothers, Max and Kay Russell, Jan and Maxine Fredrickson, Ken and Mary Russell, Charles and June Russell and Don and Penny True; and many nieces, nephews and numerous other relatives and friends.

Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 PM, Saturday, February 19, 2022 at the United Methodist Church, Courtland, Kansas with Pastor Sandra Jellison-Knock and Pastor Kathy Aeillo, officiating. 

Interment will be at the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, rural Courtland, Kansas.

Friends may call for visitation from 1 PM until 8 PM on Friday, February 18, 2022 at the Bachelor-Surber Funeral Home, Belleville, KS where the family will greet friends from 6 PM until 8 PM on Friday.

Memorials are suggested to the Courtland United Methodist Church or Solomon Valley Hospice.

Online condolences may be left at www.bachelor-surber.com

Bachelor-Surber Funeral Home, 1322 19th St, Belleville, KS is in charge of the arrangements.

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