Margaret V. Russell, 103, passed away peacefully Aug. 18 at The Aspens Living Center in Hines.

Margaret was born April 5, 1917, in Fort Benton, Mont., to Vernon and Ann Viola (Gilstrap) Hill. She was one of seven children. Part of her childhood was spent on a dry land farm in Montana. She told of the hardships they went through. When they left Montana, they set the horses free, and leaving her horse behind always bothered her.

The family moved to northern Idaho where she met and married Robert Russell on Oct. 1, 1938. She had four children, Marlene Martin (deceased) of Lewiston, Idaho, Marcheta (Dick) Roser of Burns, Roberta Buckley of Vancouver, Wash., and David (Kandy) Russell of Bend.

Margaret had nine grandchildren, Randy Martin, Daniel Martin, Jeanne Brook, Donald Martin, Ronald Martin (deceased), Mardy Stewart, Darla Stonelake, David Spector, and Gabriel Russell; 24 great-grandchildren; 23 great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Margaret was mostly a stay-at-home mom. When her youngest child, David, was in high school in the late 1960s, she finally got a driver license and went to work at the Harney County Hospital as a nurse’s aide. She loved taking care of the babies.

She loved country music and often she could be heard singing along with the music. We always knew when she was ironing  as she always sang or whistled her old favorites. She also enjoyed doing jigsaw puzzles. When she was younger, she enjoyed crocheting. She had a beautiful flower garden at her last home on Jefferson Street in Burns. She loved taking care of them. Her family was very important to her.

In December 1985, Robert suffered a stroke and she took care of him until his death may 27, 1999.

A funeral mass was held Aug. 22 at Holy Family Catholic Church in Burns. Interment was in the Burns Cemetery.

Contributions in her memory may be made to The Aspens Living Center, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in care of LaFollette’s Chapel, or to a charity of one’s choice.