Russell E. Harshberger, 75

Russell E. Harshberger, 75, passed away May 13, 2011, at his home in Anderson, Ind., after a sudden illness.

He was born June 5, 1935, and raised in Pennsylvania. In his late teens he enlisted in the Navy and was sent to the Korean War aboard a Navy destroyer.

After his discharge from the Navy, he met his wife Dixie in California. They were married in 1963, and Russ worked at The Title and Trust Insurance Company of Los Angeles, and began a family. Russ Jr., was born in 1966, and in 1967 he moved to Kalispell. There he raised four boys. He truly loved the Flathead Valley where he fished and hunted every year.

In 1968 he began working for First Montana Title Company. In 1975 he started American Abstract and Title Company, which included Lake County, Flathead County and Lincoln County. 

Upon leaving the title industry Russ pursued a second career as a right-of-way agent, relocating to numerous places around the country, eventually settling and retiring in Anderson. Russ recently planned to move back to the beautiful Flathead Valley in Montana to be closer to family.

In recent years Russ became an avid builder and flyer of remote controlled airplanes and was a member of numerous clubs.

Russ is survived by his ex-wife, Dixie Fong, of Helena; four sons, Russ L. of Portland, Mike of Spokane, Greg of Whitefish and Chris of Spokane; eight grandchildren; and three sisters, Pearl Haldeman of Columbia, Pa., Rose Barnes of Columbia, and Jane Nyberg of Kissimmee, Fla.

A memorial service in the Flathead Valley will be planned in the coming weeks.