Russell Salvatore Tagliareni, 48

Russell Salvatore Tagliareni, 48, of Belgrade, passed away after a short illness on Dec. 6, 2017, surrounded by his beloved family.

Russell was born in Kodiak, Alaska, on Nov. 26, 1969, to Susan Webster and Russell P. Tagliareni. He moved to the Flathead Valley at the age of 1. He spent much of his youth in Glacier Park and Star Meadows, where he mastered his lifelong passion of fishing. He was a 1988 graduate of Flathead High School.

Russell was a Renaissance man in the truest form. He was a quick study and had a work ethic far above the crowd. He loved the outdoors and spent his time fishing, rafting, camping and riding dirt bikes, snowmobiles, and anything else that would go fast. He was an adventure seeker and enjoyed skydiving, scuba diving and deep sea fishing. He was a loving father, son, brother and friend who will be greatly missed by those who knew him.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, William B. and Mary Margaret “Mae” Webster, and Russell S. and Eva Tagliareni; aunt, Margaret “Peggy” Russo; and mentor, H.O. “Mac” Maccain.

Russell is survived by his mother, Sue Webster; his father, R.M. Meek; his children, Nicholas and Hailey Tagliareni; his children’s mother, Jill Tagliareni; his sisters, Kat (Aaron) Lennick, Laura (Ned) Owen, and Beth Tagliareni; his brothers, Mike and Paul Tagliareni; uncles, Thomas Webster, Bill Webster and John Meek; great-aunt, Isabelle Webster; friends he considered family, John M. Baxter, Kimberly Schuman Huhn, Kristin Schuman Burns, Tom Emery, and Lonnie and Carol Larson; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

“I hope you’re fishing for the big one Sonny boy!”

A celebration of Russell’s life will be held this summer, when the fish are biting.