Russell Allen Osborne

Russell Osborne's strong heart stopped beating on Sunday, September 20, 2015. And it took a lot to make it stop. It took almost 85 years, the last six fighting a kind of cancer that usually stops a heart in three. And in the end it took him almost as much effort to die as it did to live. But we were there, surrounding him with love and prayers as he was ushered into heaven, to meet his Savior face to face, to embrace his folks and his son, long since gone from this world. Russell Allen Osborne was born October 26, 1930 in Dwight, Kansas to Raymond and Alberta Osborne. Led by older brother Kenny, and followed by younger brother Max, this was a noisy, bustling household. Driven out of Kansas by epic dust storms, the family ventured forth in 1934 to find a new and more fertile life. Oregon was the goal. But instead, by a series of events, they landed in Mud Lake, the windiest, dustiest little town in Idaho. Why swap one for another? The only answer that makes any sense is that we needed him here. We needed him to plant our roots in the desert soil, to be watered by those clear artesian wells, to grow a life and a family in a place that defies growth. And he did that well. In the ensuing years, the family built up the home place which started with a one room shack. On good years, a new room was added until that tumbledown homestead became the prettiest place in the whole town. With the full acre of lush grass, bountiful garden, towering elms, and the rows of colorful flowers, that place had it all. Dad loved it there. He graduated from Roberts high school in 1949 where he served as student body president and extra dreamy basketball star. He tried to leave for a while because college was calling, but strong ties brought him back home and there he stayed.

On May 21, 1962 after a 32 year long bachelorhood, Mom and Dad were married. No one thought his wild heart could ever be tamed. Oh how wrong they were. He took one look at her beautiful smile and it was love at first sight for both of them. His life now complete, she was his perfect match. Together they raised four children, John, Jim, Craig and Angie. Dad's status as husband is legendary. He devoted his life to mom and spent every minute of it working for her happiness and security. He loved her from the first day he saw her and at the close of his life his weakened voice kept on whispering that love. Early on, mom and dad discovered their mutual interest in travel. Together the two of them spent their retirement years truly experiencing the world, visiting five continents. For over 25 years, they spent their winters in Quartzsite, loving the desert and the beauty and warmth of that area and the many friends they made there. A gifted farmer, dad took tremendous pride in his crops. His alfalfa fed racehorses in upstate New York, and the Amish in Pennsylvania lined up to buy it. His barley crops always made the grade. His cattle were well fed. He kept his machinery in excellent working order. His farm was well tended and his ditchbanks were always burned. He was a perfectionist as a farmer and as a man, and nothing he did was done halfway. He was an exceptional dad and grandpa. He never wavered in his love and support for us, despite a thorough and lengthy testing period in which any sane parent would have rightfully committed murder. As a family, we spent every spare moment in the summer fishing and camping, and in the fall we would go on massive road trips cross country, piled into the station wagon, eating cheese from a can. We saw the best America has to offer on those trips, like Mount Rushmore in a blinding snowstorm, the World's Deepest Hand Dug Well, and The Corn Palace. On one especially memorable road trip, mom accidentally navigated our way right into the very heart of the NYC slums. That exhilarating experience and countless others were given to us by our bold and adventurous parents, and we kids were thrilled. Dad was an avid BSU football fan who loved to tailgate and to be in the stands cheering for his Broncos. He stood at the 50 yard line, family by his side, on that awesome day when the Broncos pounded the Sooners at the Fiesta Bowl in 2007. Being unable to travel to any more games, we brought the tailgate to him just two short weeks ago. With his face painted blue and orange and clanging a noisy cowbell, we paraded him through the streets of his neighborhood, taunting those pesky BYU fans. Every day of football season, the Bronco flag flies high on the flagpole in front of their house. Dad was a man of service. He viewed his community as a place of involvement. He was integral in the establishment of the West Jefferson Memorial Cemetery, was an active member of Community Baptist Church of Mud Lake and now of Watersprings Church. He served on the Owsley Canal Company, the Lions Club, the Board of Directors of the Security State Bank just to name a few, and spent the last several years volunteering at EIRMC driving people to and from their parked cars in his souped up golf cart.

Dad was an amazing man of God. He loved the Lord and was not afraid to talk about that openly. We all can still hear his customary prayer that began "Dear Lord, we thank you for this day....and WHAT A BEAUTIFUL DAY IT IS LORD!!!!" They all started out that way, and ended with a blessing for his kids and grandkids. His lifelong habit of service mirrored that of His Savior. In 2008, mom and dad decided that Idaho Falls was their next destination. The home place was getting to be a bit too much for them to handle, not ever wanting to compromise on their stewardship of that ground they had nurtured as a family for over 70 years. They moved to a neighborhood in Idaho Falls and immediately found themselves surrounded by loving neighbors, young and old. That neighborhood has grown into an extended family that cares for one another, with mom and dad at the hub of it all. Words cannot describe the blessings those neighbors have been to our parents as they have battled through this long illness. Thankful is not a big enough word for the outpouring of love we have received from all of our friends, both old and new.

The family wishes to thank the caring staff at Hearts for Hospice and especially our lovingly sassy nurse Loy, all of whom have gone over and above all expectations, all of whose hearts are now interwoven with ours. You are angels walking this earth and our journey was made smooth because of your loving guidance and support. God bless you. Dad's soul is gone from this earth now but remains forever in our hearts. We are rejoicing this day for a life well lived and more importantly, well loved. He is survived by his beloved wife Judy, his sons John (JoAnne) Osborne, Craig (Gayle) Osborne, his daughter Angie (Greg) English, and his brother, Max. He is preceded in death by his son Jim, his parents, and his older brother Kenny. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Camp Miracle Moments, P.O. Box 12, Swan Valley, ID 83449. A Memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 26, 2015, at Buck-Miller-Hann Funeral Home, 825 E. 17th Street in Idaho Falls, with Pastor Scott Dee Brown, officiating. Interment immediately following the service at 12:30 p.m. at West Jefferson Memorial Cemetery in Mud Lake. A visitation for family and friends will be held from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. on Friday, September 25, 2015 at the funeral home. Online condolences may be left at www.buckmillerhann.com.

Service Details.

Visitation

When: Friday, September 25th, 2015
Location: Funeral Home
Address:

Service

When: Saturday, September 26th, 2015
Location: Funeral Home
Address:

Interment

Location: Funeral Home
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