Russell Eugene Finneman, 85, of Crawford, Nebraska, died December 3, 2023. Born on Nov. 28, 1938, to Thomas and Myrtle (Timm) Finneman, he grew up in Marmarth, North Dakota, and graduated from Marmarth High School in 1956. He was a golden gloves boxer in high school and played basketball. He grew up working on many, numerous ranches. He married Jean Peterson, the love of his life, April 27, 1957.
He had an amazing variety of a career doing construction, working on the railroad, and serving as a county supervisor, trucker, rancher, and brick layer. He loved westerns and would read the “Western Horseman” from cover to cover.
He loved horses and the National Finals Rodeo, and he was a big fan of toothpicks, fleischkuekla, popcorn, Krause’s sausage, jelly beans and peanut clusters. He was a homebody who loved living in the country and could start a conversation with anybody on the street – and usually did. He was a huge fan of the Steelers and the Huskers.
He was a proud father, grandfather and great-grandfather.
He is survived by his wife, Jean; his son Jerry (Barb) Finneman and daughter Shelly (Kasey) Kummer, as well as grandchildren Fonda, Brent, Teri and Tommy, and great-grandsons Andrew, Breyden and Konner, as well as siblings Gerald Finneman and Sharon Rustad. He was preceded in death by his sons Tom and Brian.