Russell Spangler Hodge

Russell Spangler Hodge went home to be with his Lord and reunite with his beloved wife, Grace and son, Larry after his 99th birthday. He was born November 18, 1921, to Frank and Ethel (Spangler) Hodge, the youngest of six children, four of whom grew to adulthood. Three feet of snow at the time he was born caused the family to wait several days until they could get out with horse and sleigh to go to Philbrook where the doctor there would register his birth. He first attended the Hodge School near his home, and then completed his elementary education in Benchland and high school in Moccasin. He rode his horse to school in Benchland. On the way home he often fell asleep on the horse's neck and woke up when his horse stopped at the barn door. Upon graduation he attended a short course in agriculture in Bozeman and began farming with his father and brother. Russ, Paul, and Frank shared one tractor which Russ ran at night on his ground. He remembered logging with Kenny Spratt by Hay Canyon to get wood for themselves and the Campbell family for the winter. They slept on straw mattresses. Kenny made good syrup and good pancakes. Russ also broke horses for the Campbell and other families along the Judith River. He grew up hunting, from trapping skunks and other varmints to earn money as a youngster to hunting elk in the Little Belts for many years as well as deer and antelope. He could tell the story of when elk were introduced into the Little Belts. He met this lovely teacher from Windham at a country dance at Utica. He married Grace Hildegarde Nelson on January 3, 1942. Son Larry was born in February 1944. Shortly after Russ was drafted into the U.S. Army, serving from August 2, 1944, until April 1, 1946, in the European Theater. He said, "I thought farming was hard, and then I went to war." After basic training in Texas, he shipped out to Europe. He got taken to his unit at night, replacing soldiers with frozen feet. They also moved from place to place at night. He experienced crossing the Rhine on pontoon bridges because the regular ones had been bombed. His job was to shoot at anything floating down because it could be a bomb to blow up the pontoon bridges. In one town, he was guard at a house where medics were operating on the wounded because they couldn't get them out to a hospital. There was no electricity. They used candles and mirrors to reflect the light. In the daylight the medics' faces were black from the soot. He didn't look into the room because he didn't want to see what was going on. Coming back from WWII, he remembered the ship listing dangerously as it neared New York as all the men on board wanted to see the Statue of Liberty. His trunk went by train to Benchland. He got off in Billings to take the bus home, thinking it would be quicker. The room in which he stayed had no windows so he overslept. He started hitchhiking, finally getting a ride with a farmer in a cattle truck who took him a quarter of the way. He didn't say how long he waited for the next ride. Two days after his return home he was back farming. Grace managed the farm while he was gone; the good price for wheat paid off the farm before Russ got home. Daughter, Sharolyn was born after his return. Over the years, Russ was involved with Benchland Rifle Club, Stanford Investment Club, Benchland Oil Co., and Toastmasters' Club. He was a long time member of Zion Lutheran Church where he served on the church council and as an usher. He was an unofficial greeter, always speaking to visitors and newcomers. From 1980-1986, he served as Judith Basin Co. commissioner. He retired from agriculture in 1986. Russ and Grace later moved to Lewistown. After her death in 2001, he continued to live at the Esplanade until health reasons necessitated the move to Caslen Living Center where he lived until his health necessitated the move to Great Falls. Russ never met a person he couldn't visit with and his concern for the welfare of others was genuine. He and Grace traveled in retirement and after her passing, he traveled with daughter, Sharolyn and Lloyd. He enjoyed coffee times with friends in Hobson and later in Lewistown, in the hospital, and later in assisted living. His concern was always for the other person be it doctor or visitor. Although his memory faded in later years, this basic grace remained. He was preceded in death by his wife, Grace; and son, Larry. He is survived by daughter, Sharolyn (Lloyd) Taylor; daughter-in-law, Patricia (Jim) Hodge Fredrikson; grandchildren, Martha Hodge, Frank (Erin) Hodge, Lloyd (Abby) Taylor, and Ginger Taylor Casagrande; great-grandchildren, Mason and Boady Casagrande, Natalie Grace, Conner Russell and Claire Taylor, Ava and Julian Russell Hodge; numerous nieces and nephews; and friends beyond counting. The family would like to thank the caregivers at Caslen Living Center for their attentive care these past few years, as well as the medical staff at CMMC, Benefis, and Peace Hospice. Cremation has taken place and private arrangements are being made. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Russell's favorites Zion Lutheran Church, Fergus County Aging Services, Boys & Girls Club of Lewistown, or a charity of your choice.