Russell Trautman

Russell Trautman, 71, Cleveland, ND, died Sunday, August 31, 2014 at Sheyenne Care Center in Valley City, ND surrounded by family.

Russell was born June 16, 1943 in Jamestown, ND, the son of Paul and Margaret (McClung) Trautman.

He grew up on the family farm north of Cleveland, ND, and attended Cleveland Public School. After graduation, he earned a degree in Mechanical Drafting from North Dakota State School of Science. He worked for Honeywell in Minneapolis for about a year, and then started working at Control Data in Roseville, MN, where he worked as a Mechanical Draftsman and group leader for 17 years. He married Darlene in 1973 and they had 4 children.

In 1981 Russ and his family moved back to the family farm near Cleveland, where he resumed his love of farming. Russ was also a bus driver for Medina School, a postal mail carrier, fire chief for the Cleveland Rural Fire Department, a Weld Township secretary, a weather spotter for Stutsman County, and a financial secretary for Atonement Lutheran Church in Jamestown. He and Darlene were also foster parents for many years to numerous foster children through PATH foster care.

Russ loved camping, fishing, reading, westerns, bluegrass music, playing guitar, history, and spending time with his grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Darlene, his daughters Nancy (Mike) Klemen, Karen (John) Quibell, Katherine Weibye, and a son, Paul (Cory) Trautman, his grandchildren Joshua, Benjamin, & Samuel Klemen, Lucas, Sydney, Tristan, & Ethan Quibell, Alanna, Faith, & Naomi Weibye, and Jocelyn & Ashlyn Trautman, his sister Sharon (Robert) Anderson, brother Allan (Judy) Trautman, and 11 nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Funeral Service: 10:30, Friday, September 5, 2014 at Atonement Lutheran Church, Jamestown, ND with Pastor Scott Block, officiating.

Visitation: 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, Thursday, September 4 at Eddy Funeral Chapel.

Prayer Service: 7:00 PM, Thursday, September 4 at Eddy Funeral Chapel.

Burial: Trautman Family Cemetery, rural Cleveland, ND.

Online guest book: www.eddyfuneralhome.com