Loretta E. "Lori" Russell
Loretta E. "Lori" Russell
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Loretta Russell Obituary
Born one of eight children, Lori was raised on a small farm outside of Festina, Iowa during the Great Depression. In 1957, Lori was hired, sight unseen, to teach school by the Territory of Alaska. Her mother made her promise to come straight home if she didn't like it, but her one year contract turned into 68 years.
Lori met her future husband, Bill Russell, while working for Wien Airlines in Fort Yukon, Alaska one winter. They married in 1965 and raised their two children while trapping on the Sheenjek River during the 1960s-1980s. Lori gave her children and her grandchildren a wonderful childhood, as they would say.
Lori led an active lifestyle right up to the end of her life. She enjoyed gardening, especially growing tomatoes, working outdoors, doing puzzles, being active in her church, and spoiling her grandchildren. Lori said that her only regrets were not living to age 100 and not living long enough to see a woman become president. Her love for Jesus was remarkable and expressed how excited she was to meet him.
She was preceded in death by her husband, William L. Russell, her parents, Hugo and Mathilda Lensing, and her 6 siblings. She is survived by her sister, Judy Lensing, daughter Robyn and son Rafe Russell, Sr., grandchildren Rafe,Jr., Mikayla (Trenton), Paisley, and Tuesdae, great- grandchildren Carter, Bridger, and Buford Shepersky, as well as her adopted family, Charmagne Alder, Ryan Bosch, and their children, Kiana, Garrett, Bella, and Damian.
The Russell family would like to extend special thanks to the dedicated staff and volunteers at the Fairbanks Memorial Hospital and Denali Center who enabled our mother to live out this final chapter of her life with grace and dignity.
A graveside interment service and a celebration of life will be held during the summer of 2026. Donations of any kind can be forwarded to the Russell family through Mikayla via cash app: $mikaylaR18 or Venmo: Mikayla-Russell-1
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
1 Entry
Carol Secor
January 16, 2026
Lori was a nice lady, always ready to visit and was friendly. Sorry to hear this.
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