Russell S. Cross, Jr.

Russell S Cross Jr. , 91, of Missoula, Montana, passed away December 20, 2021, following a valiant battle with myelodysplastic syndrome. His fun filled life began December 6, 1930 as the third child of Vivian J. and Russell S. Cross Sr. in Evanston, IL. After spending his early years in the Chicago neighborhood of Norwood Park, he and his family moved to Des Moines, IA in the early 1940’s. Trained by his father and 2 older sisters, Russell eagerly competed on the Roosevelt High School tennis team, a sport he would go on to enjoy with his family for many years. Upon graduation from Roosevelt High School in 1948, he attended Iowa State University briefly and then enlisted in the US Navy for a two year stint. Returning from the Navy he attended Drake University, joined the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, and graduated with a degree in Business Administration. While at Drake, he met the love of his life Sandra Ann Blymyer. She passed away May 7, 2021, just shy of their 67th anniversary. Dad was Mom’s compassionate and devoted caregiver for the last years of her life. An internship at Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance Company of Iowa during his senior year at Drake was the start of a career with that company that spanned five decades. He loved the people he worked with and loved his clients, serving as a territory manager in eastern Iowa and later northwestern Ohio for 20 years. He returned to the home office in Des Moines in 1973 to manage the Poultry Insurance Department until 1994- he became all about chickens and turkeys! Community was also important to Russell. He served on the city council in Bowling Green, OH, for nearly 12 years, and then for one term in Indianola, IA. Upon retirement he and Sandy moved to Pentwater, MI where he was active in several community organizations, including the Pentwater Service Club, the Methodist Church, and the Pentwater Yacht Club. In 2016 they moved to Missoula to be closer to family. Russell was also deeply committed to his family and loved to stay connected with them. Whether it was his 5 sons or their spouses, an aunt, uncle, cousin, niece or nephew he took interest in their lives and loved to share his with them. Most important he loved his grandchildren and great grandchildren and they loved him back. Throughout his long life his gift for story telling connected him with family and friends anywhere and at any time with the greatest of ease. All those stories conveyed his passion for living and a life well lived. Russell is survived by four sons: Russell S Cross III (Beth) of Pentwater, MI; Dr. Andy Cross (Mary) of Missoula, MT; Eric Cross (Jenny) of Smyrna, GA; David Cross of Atlanta, GA; and daughter-in-law Kate Cross of Olympia, WA, as well as 15 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren and his sister Bettye Lou Bennett of Sherwood, OR. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Sandra, his son Frank Bennett Cross and grandson Benjamin Cross, and a sister Shirley Ginos of Hillsboro, IL. A celebration of life will be held June 20, 2022 in Pentwater, MI, at the Centenary United Methodist Church with a private burial to follow. Memorials may be made the church for their community dinners, or to the Pentwater Service Club.