Russell Chapman, 67

Russell Chapman, 67, passed away peacefully Dec. 23, 2009, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center. He was born Dec. 3, 1942, in Chester. He moved to Bigfork and went to school at Swan River when it was just a one-room cabin, graduating in 1960. Russ worked on the family ranch and logging. He met his wife Sandi and they were married in 1966; for 27 years. They lived at 1377 Swan Highway, where Russ resided up until his death. They had two children, daughter, Jennifer Graham, the oldest, in 1973; three years later, in 1976, they had a son, Stuart Chapman, who has lived with Dad. They took care of each other. Russ and Sandi were divorced in 1997. They remained friends through the years. Russ has two beautiful granddaughters that he loved and cherished very much, Leesa Benner, age 16, and her sister, Lakayla Benner, age 15. There were the brightness in his life. He enjoyed spending time with them. Russ was a life member of VFW Post 4042 where he was very active and received many awards for his achievements; and also a member of the American Legion and Cooties, with whom he was also active. Russell enjoyed the outdoors and the activities that it offered. He also enjoyed a good Western novel. He enjoyed reading, crosswords, drawing and woodcarving. When he came back from the war in 1969, Russ worked at the post office for three years. But what he loved to do was log; he came from a logging family. They logged anything from logs to fence posts to rails. He also sold firewood for many, many years. His children can both remember being very young and out there helping him, and as they grew up they still helped. You could say they followed in his steps for they both have gotten and sold firewood in their adult years. Russell also showed both his kids how to mechanic in their early teenage years, which they still use until this day. As a member of the VFW, he sold and ran the fireworks stand every year. Everyone that knew him would come and buy their fireworks from him and nowhere else. His granddaughters really enjoyed that also, because Grandpa made sure they had all the cool fireworks for the Fourth of July. Russell was a man that would help anyone who asked or even if not, if he could help he would. He was a great man, father, husband and friend, and will be extremely missed. Russell would want us to remember all the good things and times we all shared with him. He would not want us to be sad. He would want to celebrate life and to celebrate him, and to live life to the most extent that life could give us. Please remember him and remember he loved all of us very much. He was preceded in death by his father, John Chapman; and brothers, Rex Chapman and Ronald Chapman. Russell leaves behind his mother, Louella Schwenke, of Superior; daughter, Jennifer, and husband, Adam Graham, of Alexander, N.D.; son, Stuart Chapman, of Bigfork; granddaughters, Leesa and Lakayla; brother, Roger Chapman, of Steilacoom, Wash.; sister, Rosalie Schwenke, of Kalispell; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles and friends. Funeral services with military honors will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, Dec. 28, at the Little Brown Church in Bigfork. Viewing will be from 1 p.m. until the time of service. Burial will follow the funeral at Lone Pine Cemetery right behind the Little Brown Church. A potluck dinner will immediately follow at the Swan River Hall in Bigfork. A gathering will be held later at the VFW in Bigfork. Thank you all for coming. Donations can be sent to the family home at 1377 Swan Highway, Bigfork, MT 59911.