Obituary of Russell Stringer

Russell William Stringer was born July 8, 1947 to William and Marion Stringer of the Albion District in the Lloydminster Hospital, and was baptized in St. Michael’s Anglican Church, Albion.

Russell was predeceased by his parents, Bill and Marion Stringer; paternal grandparents, Henry Gray and Emily Stringer; and maternal grandparents, David and Maude Oliver; numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins, Brian Price, Ron Oliver, Harold Horton and Norma Sherman. 

Russell is survived by his brother, Dave Stringer (Gaylene); sisters, Gwen Stringer-Klassen (Jack) of Shell Lake, SK., and Elaine Newman (Steve) of Hillmond, Sk.;  twelve nieces and nephews, Nathan & Tiffany Stringer of Hillmond, Merrilee Stringer (Matt) of Edmonton, Cynthia & Steven Westergaard of Islay, Aaron & Jennifer Marlatt of Spruce Grove, Brendan Marlatt of Edmonton, Melody Marlatt (TJ) of Spruce Grove, Michelle Marlatt (Jason) of Courtenay, BC;  Jason Newman (Nic) of Hillmond, Jackie & Brent Harray of Viking, Dustin & Becky Newman of Kitscoty, Harley & Stephanie Newman of Hillmond, Shaun & Melissa Newman of Lloydminster and their families.

Russell was the eldest of four, and grew up farming and ranching with his Dad, brother Dave, and Grandad Henry Gray on Henry Gray’s original homestead. He attended school at Albion travelling by horseback in his younger years with second cousins Vernon & Don Priest, and later with siblings Dave and Gwen. When the one room schoolhouse closed, Russell went to Hillmond Central School on the school bus, being picked up on future Hwy. 3, a 1/2 mile jaunt in fall, winter and spring, and at times grabbing his youngest sister’s hand so she could keep up to get to the bus on time! In 1964 Russell and Dave became full time farmers and ranchers.

Russell’s love of horses and cattle were a mainstay during his life. He could often be found hitching the team to the hayrack or wagon, grooming the horses, riding to check cows, breaking a two-year old colt, or practicing roping. In the 1970’s, Bill, Russell and Dave rented pasture around Peck and Bronson Lakes and with Jim Priest, George and Allan Furman, and Clint Moylan they trekked close to 1000 head of cattle to pasture on horseback, a three-day journey in spring and fall. Russell was always a seasoned and trusted hand on the cattle drive. Later, in the 1980’s he joined the Deer Creek Roping Association and enjoyed team roping.

As a youth Russell played hockey and ball and spent many hours practicing roping fence posts and as a young man enjoyed going to the rodeos from Meadow Lake to Lea Park to Wainwright, and watching hockey and baseball. Later, he followed the Oilers, the Senators, the Blue Jays and kept track of his nephews’ hockey and ball, and his niece’s figure skating. Russell toured much of western Canada, the western US and in 1979 got his passport, and travelled to Hawaii and Australia where he spent several months touring and working. He enjoyed genealogy, country music, checkers, cards, reading Zane Grey novels, old western movies and cattle sales.

In 2006, Russell suffered an almost fatal vehicle accident on Hwy# 3. He was airlifted to Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon, and after a lengthy stay he returned home to enjoy the ranch. In 2021, Russell, having been plagued in recent years with diabetes, ended up during Covid in St. Paul’s Hospital, Saskatoon; and after another lengthy stay came home to rehab, and resume ranch life. These health issues slowed him down but he remained active on the farm/ranch by checking the cattle and taking salt to the pastures.

Early in the morning October 23, 2024, Russell drove to the pasture to check on the heifers and managed to get stuck. He started to walked the mile towards home; but God had other plans, and in the middle of the pasture, God called him to his eternal home under a beautiful blue sky and fluffy white clouds.

Russell was a very independent, quiet and private person. Several people have mentioned in these last weeks they thought of him as the strong, silent type like a cowboy in the old western movies. A niece mentioned one of her favorite memories of Uncle Russell was the afternoon teas with Granny and him on the ranch when she was young.

One of my favorite memories of Russell, is also related to time I spent on the ranch helping to put up sileage when I was a kid, I couldn’t have been more than 13 or 14 years old, so as it was, I got the lowest job on the pole of running the pit tractor one summer. That summer, like most teenage boys trying to show that I was a man and not a boy anymore, I had picked up a bad habit of taking to chewing tobacco. So here I was a teenage boy, out working with the men, full dip in my lip, feeling pretty good about myself. For some reason I can’t remember, but most likely because I wasn’t doing an adequate job in the pit, I got pulled off the pit tractor for a while to do another task and Russell took over. However, when I left my tractor, I quickly realized I had forgot my tin of chewing tabacco. I was horrified and all thoughts of me being a man quickly vanished and I returned to thinking like a boy and was worried about the hell I was going to catch when my newfound habit was found out. After I finished the other task, I returned to take back over in the pit and was horrified about what Russell was going say. I approached the tractor with this fear and Russell dismounted and started to walk past me, then he stopped and said “hey, you forgot something.” I was horrified, then he reached into his back pocket, produced my contraband and tossed it back to me with a smile. Not saying another word. Russell was the strong silent type, had a great heart and a sly sense of humor.

Russell was lucky to have lived out his life on the land that he loved and that he had poured his heart into since birth. He was always surrounded by family and who were able to look out for him and aid him in the later years as his health failed.

The life Russell lived is becoming a rare one in this new world, however there is something quite beautiful and natural about being born on a patch of land and living out your life tending to it.

In closing, a couple of passages from the bible:

“ For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.” Psalm 50:10

“In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” 1 Cor. 15:52

• Aaron Marlatt

Thank-you

The family would like to thank all those family, friends and neighbors who came out to celebrate Russell’s life. A special thanks to those who shared memories of their times with Russell.