Russell Raymond Griffith

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Russell Griffith, age 94 years of Yorkton, passed away on August 22, 2021.

Russell Raymond George Griffith was born on June 8, 1927. He died peacefully at Lakeside Manor Care Home on August 22, 2021 at the age of 94 years, following a battle with cancer. Russell, the youngest of three children, was born in the Willowbrook area to George and Ruth Griffith (nee Meays). When asked where he was born, he would smile and say, “Section 26 - 25 - 7 - West of the Second Meridian.” As a child, Russell loved spending hours by his brother's side. Arthur taught him how to snare gophers for 2 cents a tail and to trap muskrats and rabbits. He loved tagging along to skating parties on the pond on 27. He had many happy memories of attending Cherryfield School.  Russell loved music. For years, he and Vincent Churko took weekly violin lessons in Yorkton. Dad also played the saxophone and banjo. As a young man, he played in a band and later in life was part of the Parkland Fiddlers. Early in life he helped build his parent’s new home which he later moved into with his own family. On October 27, 1954, Russell married the love of his life, Eileen Kormos. They settled on the homestead near Willowbrook and within a span of nine years, five girls were born. Russell was very busy, running the farm … planting grain fields, tending to cattle, pigs and chickens. In 1962, after a complete hail out, Russell and Eileen started an egg business. They raised hundreds of chickens to supply the Radar Base, the Hospital and a couple of Yorkton restaurants with eggs. He often patiently took his little helpers (girls) with him to tend the cattle, fix fences, and to hand him tools as he fixed machinery. Sundays were a family day, often spent visiting relatives.  Russell established the Broken Arrow Archery Club. He and Eileen hosted annual tournaments which brought people from afar. He sold archery equipment, making strings for bows and assembling arrows. Archery became a much-loved family sport.  Russell enjoyed life - baseball, curling, fishing, hunting, teaching 4-H woodworking. He loved nature, birds and flowers. Dad took his camera to capture the beauty around him wherever he and Eileen went. Russell and Eileen sold the farm in 1978 and moved into Yorkton. Together they started a new chapter in their lives. Russell started working at Peakwood Industries helping persons with special needs build furniture. Building on a lifelong passion for photography, they purchased Russells Studios in the early 1980s. Russell, Eileen and their daughter, Marie, worked side by side for a decade enjoying the business. After retirement, Russell picked up his love for woodwork again teaching some of his girls and grandkids the art of scroll sawing. He also started hand carving and painting. Russell and Eileen would go to craft sales selling his wares, accompanied often by a daughter and grandchildren.

Russell cared about life and was actively involved in the community - local agriculture groups, the watershed project at Good Spirit Lake, the church council as chairman, the Knights of Columbus, the woodworking guild and the Independent Manor board (instrumental in launching their beautiful covered deck). He enjoyed sharing his love for music, playing in seniors' centers and care homes.  Throughout his life, Russell loved spending time with his family at the cabin or in his workshop. Russell and Eileen enjoyed meeting family and friends at McDonalds. After Eileen’s passing, he continued his trips to McDee’s. He always made time for others, making one feel special and loved. His faith was of utmost importance to him throughout his life.

Russell was predeceased by his wife of 64 years, Eileen Griffith; parents, Ruth & George Griffith; siblings, Arthur (Florence) Griffith & Evelyn (Steve) Bella; son-in-law, John van den Heuvel; great grandson, Elishah Fisher;  mother & father-in-law, Mary & Steve Kormos; Eileen’s siblings, Andrew, Theodore, Steve & John Kormos, & Mary (John) Bodnarek.

Russell is survived by his children ~ Marie Hayden (Doug) & children Rachel Kleebaum & Cory Griffith; Dorothy Griffith (Robert Stubbins) & her children Jennifer Dawson (Cory Curtis) & Shelby Smyth (Travis) & son, Hayes Smyth; Debbie Griffith (Gerald Langner) & her children Brendon Purton (Candace Northey) & son, Oliver Purton, & Kendra Fisher (Javan); Colleen Hoffort (Scott) & children Angela van den Heuvel (Ryan Sobolik) & her sons, John & Daelan Radford, Shana Timoruski (Jesse) & son, Ira Timoruski, & Ryan van den Heuvel; Sharon Michalishen (Grant) & children Sarah Auchstaetter (Nolan) & Regan Michalishen (Theresa Lenkart). He is survived by Eileen’s sister-in-laws, Ellenor & Donna Kormos along with numerous nieces and nephews, cousins, extended family members and friends.

Serving as Pallbearers to carry Russel to his final lasting place were Grant Michalishen, Scott Hoffort, Gerald Langer, Johnny Woychesko, Ken Somogyi and Randy Kormos.

A Prayer Service was held on Friday August 27, 2021 at St. Gerard’s Roman Catholic Church with Mary Bybliw as Lay Presider.  A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Saturday August 28, 2021 from St. Gerard’s Roman Catholic Church with Fr. Louis Nguyen officiating. Interment followed in Yorkton Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

Should friends so desire, donations in memory of Russell Griffith, may be made to St Gerard's Church, or the Activity Department at the Saltcoats Lakeside Manor Care Home. 

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