RUSSELL GEORGE ROSS

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

RUSSELL GEORGE ROSS February 17, 1929 - January 11, 2005 I have fought a good fight. I have finished my course. I have the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day, and not to me only, but unto all of them. Also that love his appearing. 2 Timothy Ch 4, 7, 8 It is with profound and heartbreaking sorrow that we announce the sudden passing of our dear loving husband, dad, grandpa and great-grandpa Russell Ross of Lake St. Martin First Nation at the age of 75 years. He leaves to mourn his untimely passing, his loving wife Violet Ross; loving daughters, Billie McKay (John Jr.), Wanda Dano (Earl Sr.), Kris Menard (Monty); loving sons, Alvin Ross (Lorette), David Lee Ross (Becky), Brian Ross (Colinda), Clarence Ross (Wendy) and Michael Ross; loving grandchildren, the McKays - Jared and Brittney, the Danos - Destiny, Earl Jr., Corey, and Mikey, the Menards - Kyle, Colton and Monterey Jr., the Ross's - April, Terry, Angelle, Gina, Jocelyn, Kendra, Donovan, Brianna, Desiree and Jodi, Cheyenne, Ashley, Elizabeth, Shaylene, Ivan, Sterling, Leah and Princess, Levi, baby Gabriel and Lyrxx; loving great-grandchildren, Mercedes Diamond Skye Dano, Jared, Jordan, and Jeremy Salyn, he was known as Grandpa Button Eyes to them; loving brothers, Marshall Ross and David Ross (Christina); loving sisters, Roseanne Anderson (John), Hazel Shorting (Eric), Sylvia Traverse (Elmer); special niece Marilyn Marsden; loving sister-in-law Lorraine Thuringer; brother-in-law Maurice Traverse; loving adopted daughter Josephine Sumner Marsden; loving adopted son Floyd Patrick; special niece and friend Clara Letander of Whitedog, ON whom he celebrated the same birthday with. He will be welcomed in Heaven and all will be rejoicing by his predeceased loving parents, Peter and Kathleen Ross; loving brother Wally Ross; and loving sister Mary Walker; his loving sons, Leonard James Ross and John Robert Ross; and loving daughter Mary Ross; and his loving grandchildren, Princess Mary Elizabeth Menard, and Lenard Jon Ross Menard; and loving daughter-in-law Sherry Lynn Ross; and other nieces, nephews cousins and friends too numerous to mention. Our dad was devout Christian, a Pastor and a travelling Evangelist for 45 years who truly loved to serve the Lord and was proud to be part of God's Ministry. He preached the Word of God throughout the land. A man of war with his sword, the Bible, in his right hand. Dad's favourite pastimes were singing gospel songs, reading his Bible, and he was instrumental. He played a guitar, accordion and steel guitar at church services. He travelled throughout Northern Ontario and Manitoba spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ and preaching of brotherly love. His greatest heart's desire was that all family, relatives and friends would get saved before it's too late and have peace and assurance that comes from God with the hope of eternal salvation. Dad held annual tent-camp meetings in his front yard at home. He had gospel meetings in Winnipeg, Ashern and Ontario. Even when our dad became ill these past few months, he continued to serve the Lord right up until the last breath of life. 45 years of serving Jesus with no stop signs, no retirement, nobody, no one will ever stop him from praying to the one Saviour of all Jesus Christ who saved him and the one he is with today. Our dad was truly devoted and faithful in his walk with Jesus. Trials, tribulations, struggles couldn't keep him from praying. We will truly miss our dad and his teachings and our happy times together. Dad and mom celebrated their 45th Wedding Anniversary together last year, May 14, 2004. A testimony of their devotion and unconditional love to each other. They were helpmates for one another, yet it was clear that Jesus Christ, the one and only was their rock, their anchor and their cornerstone. In his younger years dad worked as a commercial fisherman in Dauphin River and on Lake Winnipeg, he was a construction worker for McEwan Bros. in Winnipeg, worked on MB Hydro lines in northern Manitoba and Hay River, N.W.T., setting up transformers on Hwy #6, and was also a school custodian for the Lake St. Martin School. A wake service will be held on Friday, January 14, 2005 at his residence at Lake St. Martin First Nation and on Saturday, January 15 at the Lake St. Martin Church. Funeral service will be held on Sunday, January 16 at 12:00 noon with Pastor Lloyd Guimond officiating. Interment to follow in the Lake St. Martin Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Mervin Sinclair, Albert Ross, Teddy Woodhouse, Emery Marsden, Marshall Ross Jr., and Adrian Sinclair. Crossbearer will be Kyle Menard. Honorary Pallbearers will be Roddy Owen, Oliver Ross, Willie Roulette, Howard Roulette, Floyd Patrick, Lloyd Letander, Henry Letander, Wallace Letander, Howard Arkinson, Wilfred (Joe) Marsden, and Myles Sinclair. The family would like to acknowledge and give many thanks to his special nurses Donna Helm and Colleen Penner at the Lakeshore General Hospital in Ashern, Glen Arnason, Funeral Director at Arnason Funeral Home in Ashern for being a friend to our dad and being there for us, Chief Peter Ross and Band Council at Lake St. Martin Band and to all who came from far and near to comfort us in our time of loss. God Bless you all and thank you for loving and being our dad's friend. We will never forget your friendship and kindness. We also want to thank Jesus for giving us our dad to love and share his life with us. We love you dad, husband, grandpa and great-grandpa. We will never forget you. Arrangements by: ARNASON FUNERAL HOMES LTD. Ashern - Lundar (204) 768-2072

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 14, 2005