Russell Forrest Smith, the son of Harold and Faye Lang Smith was born February 16, 1930 on the home farm, southwest of Emerson in Mills County, Iowa. He passed away Thursday, September 9, 2010 at the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital, Red Oak, Iowa at the age of 80 years, 6 months and 24 days. Russell grew up on the family farm near Emerson. In 1947, he graduated from Emerson High School. Russell continued his education at Iowa State College in Ames, Iowa, where he was a member of Adelante Fraternity, graduating in 1951. Following college and during the Korean War, he began serving his country in the United States Air Force, and was honorably discharged in 1955. Russell jokingly wrote of his time in the Air Force, ""My eyes were never good enough to qualify for pilots training to actually fly an airplane of any kind. My duty consisted of flying a typewriter for four years of Air Force service."" On June 28, 1953, Russell was united in marriage to Margaret Joan 'Jo' Strong in Orient, Iowa. Following his military service, Russell and Jo made their home on a farm southwest of Red Oak until 1969 when they moved to Russell's family farm southwest of Emerson. Russell loved farming and raising cattle and was a big supporter of both throughout his life. Family was important to Russell and he took great pride and joy to see a sixth generation living on the family farm that was honored as a Heritage Farm by the Iowa Dept. of Agriculture. Russell was a member of the Mills and Montgomery County Farm Bureau, Mills-Montgomery County Cattlemen's Association, and Humanity Masonic Lodge #378 A.F. & A.M., Order of the Eastern Star #121, American Legion Post #575 of Emerson, and was a past member of the Emerson Methodist Church. He also served on the Mills County Fair Board, Mills County Extension Council, was a 4-H club leader, and served on the Nishna Valley School Board. In 1993, Russell and Jo retired and moved to Red Oak where he enjoyed coffee with his friends at the Rainbow Café, and volunteering as a courier with the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital Auxiliary. He was also a member of the Red Oak Presbyterian Church. Russell was preceded in death by his parents: Harold and Faye. Russell is survived by his wife of 57 years, Jo Smith of Red Oak, IA; children: Jackie Stevens and husband Brad of Conrad, IA; and Gary Smith and wife Anne of Glenwood, IA; four grandchildren: Grant Stevens and Clark Stevens of Conrad, IA; Brady Smith and wife Melissa of Emerson, IA; and Emily Portrey and husband Matthew of Glenwood, IA; one great-grandchild, Shayna Portrey; two brothers: William Smith and wife Delphine of Villisca, IA; and Leo Smith and wife Sarah of Red Oak, IA; two sisters: Kathryn Smith and husband H. Richard of Clive, IA; and Sally Whetstine and husband Ed of Wellman, IA; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Funeral service will be held Monday, September 13, 2010 at 10:30 a.m. at the Red Oak Presbyterian Church Burial in Emerson Cemetery, Emerson, Iowa with Military Rites Rev. Caryn Pedersen, Officiating Visitation with the family Sunday, September 12 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at Sellergren-Lindell-DeMarce Funeral Home, Red Oak Memorials may be directed to Mills County 4-H Endowment Fund, the American Heart Association, Red Oak Presbyterian Church or the American Lung Association. Services entrusted to Sellergren-Lindell-DeMarce Funeral Home, Red Oak