Golda Milanda (Copeland) Russell

Golda Milanda (Copeland) Russell, of Vienna, died the 14th day of November in the year of 2012, at the Westphalia Hills Retirement Center. She had reached the age of 96 years, 9 months, and 13 days. Golda had been living at the Westphalia Hills Retirement Center since January 2007, as a result of a fall that broke her hip. Her prior residencies had included Maries Manor and Victorian Gardens both located in Vienna, MO and St. James, MO for 11 years. The rest of her life she was a resident of Maries County living next to the Gasconade River.

She was born a little red headed girl on January 31st, 1916, in rural Maries County to James Oliver Copeland and Ida Augusta (Kremmel) Copeland. She was married to Herman Oscar Russell on June 11th, 1939. They were the first couple to be married in the Union Hill Baptist Church in the Bend community in Maries County. She is the mother of three sons and one daughter.

Golda was preceded in death by her parents, her husband (February 14th, 1994), two sons; Leonard Russell, (February 11th, 2000) and Ronald Russell (February 7th, 2011), two grandsons; Jerry Russell (April 2nd, 1976) and Jeffery Russell (October 2nd, 2000), two sisters; Ruby Snodgrass and Elsie Backues, three brothers; Joe Copeland, Frank Copeland and Julius Copeland. Also preceding her in death was a special friend, (Papa) John George who passed away February 3rd, 2005.

Golda is survived by her son, James Russell, of Freeburg; her daughter, Ida Laverne (Russell) Haller (husband Donald) of Freeburg. Three daughter-in-laws: Mary (Schwartz) Russell of Defiance, Bonnie (Lewis) Russell of Jefferson City, and LaVerne Herzing Russell, Argyle. She is survived by six granddaughters and six grandsons: Patty Dulz (husband Shaun) of Kirkwood, Randy Russell of Pueblo, Colorado, Glen Haller (wife Becky) of Freeburg, Darryl Haller (wife Amy) of Freeburg, Nyla Bassett (husband Paul) of Freeburg, Tammy Pope (husband Dale) of Freeburg, Carla Murray (husband Richard) of Jefferson City, Dawn Wieburg (husband Raymond) Argyle, Chad Russell, Lake of Ozark, Scott Russell (wife Sara) of Jerome, Chris Russell (wife Lindsey) of Eldon, and Amy Russell, Jefferson City. She is survived by one granddaughter-in- law Judy Russell of Clearwater, Florida. Golda's generations continue with twenty-eight great grandchildren.

Golda lived near the Gasconade River almost all her life and loved the outdoors, fishing and hunting. She enjoyed gardening, canning and preserving her fruit and vegetables and especially cooking with her homegrown products for her family and friends. She was a very good cook and loved to make homemade angel food cakes and give them to friends. Golda was best known for her hospitality and services to others.
No one was ever turned down for a meal and she always had available a fresh cup of hot coffee along with her famous angel food cake, fresh baked pies or homemade rolls and blackberry jelly. She also enjoyed quilting and had made many beautiful quilts.

Golda loved being around people and always hosted a 4th of July picnic on the Gasconade River bank; in the early years on the Copeland side of the river and later years on the Russell side of the river. The menu was always fresh fried cat fish; she had caught herself, and all the trimmings. Golda's front yard was a welcome spot for picnic and music and laughter that rang through the hillsides and up and down the river banks. She enjoyed the Buehrlen's, the Kaiser's and friends playing their country music and singing in her front yard. She herself had a musical talent. She like to yodel for her friends and family, even most recently she has been yodeling for the nurses in the retirement home. She was a loving mother and grandmother to her children, grandchildren and great-grand children. She will be sadly missed but will leave a loving memory in all of our hearts.

Funeral services will be conducted for Mrs. Russell at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, November 17, 2012, in the First Baptist Church, Vienna, with Rev. Mike Hurtgen officiating. Interment will be in the Breeding cemetery, Freeburg, under the direction of the Vienna Chapel of the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Homes.

Visitation will be 5 – 7 p.m., Friday, November 16, 2012 and 10 – 11 a.m., Saturday, November 17, 2012, in the First Baptist Church, Vienna.