Russell R. Bayne

Russell R. Bayne, 83 Eddyville resident Russell R. Bayne, 83 of Eddyville, died Wednesday, February 11, 2015 at CHI Health Good Samaritan in Kearney. A memorial service will be held 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, February 17th, at the United Church of Sumner. The Rev. Ken Hudson will officiate. Interment will follow at Ft. McPherson National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Sumner Rescue Squad, Korean War Hero Flight, Eddyville Volunteer Fire Department or donor’s choice. . Condolences may be shared online at www.osrfh.com. O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Russell R. Bayne was born March 12, 1931, at Brunswick, Nebraska, to LeRoy and Pearl (Stearns) Bayne. The family moved many times during his childhood including O'Neill, Sutherland, Auburn, North Platte and Yankton, South Dakota. They lived in North Platte for several years where they owned a dairy. During his high school years the family moved to Sweetwater and Russ attended Ravenna High School graduating in 1949. He lived in an upstairs apartment in a house in town while attending school and playing football. He worked construction for a couple of years with his brother-in-law, Truman Ludlow. Russ was inducted into the Army April 4, 1952, with basic training in the 101st Airborne in Paducah, Kentucky. He served during the Korean War in Germany for one year in ordinance in the 2nd Armored Division Headquarters. He was on temporary duty in Europe to identify spare parts. He traveled many parts of the country in a Jeep assigned to him. He had good memories of his time there and recalled the beauty of the countryside as well as the surrounding countries he visited. He was proud of his military service but had lingering memories of the poor treatment of the returning vets. After his military service he attended Kearney State College at the encouragement of his Aunt Libby. Further goals took him to Denver University where he earned his degree in business and finance in 1961. During his college years he worked nights as supervisor at Gates Rubber Company and attended classes during the day. In 1966 he moved to Kearney to work at Good Samaritan Hospital in finance. He often said he came in with Medicare and bought the first electric adding machine. He became Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer. He took pride in his part in the 1974 addition to the hospital. In 1978 he moved to Scottsbluff and West Nebraska General Hospital as CFO. In 1987 he worked at Mercy Medical Center and St. Anthony's in Denver. In 1989, he became CFO at Citizens Medical Center in Colby, Kansas, and directed building of a nursing home and assisted living facility along with his financial duties. Russ did a man's work during much of his childhood and as a young adult. He drove a truck and did farming which he later chose to do again. About five years before he retired he surprised Sue when he bought a pair of bib overalls that became his informal wear. That is when he started planning to buy some land and farm during his retirement. In 1995 Russ and Sue purchased 160 acres west of Eddyville where he enjoyed farming, restoring and working the land with his tractors. He loved to fix things and could fix about anything. His equipment was always well maintained. If it was broke, he fixed it. In April, 1955 he married Virginia Schaeffer in North Platte. A daughter, Penny, was adopted in 1965 and Karen was born in 1971. February 26, 1977, he married Sue Wright at the First Christian Church in Elm Creek. If Russ liked you, you had a loyal friend forever and he would do anything for you. Russ loved his wife and always wanted to do the best for her. He loved his children and grandchildren and was always proud of them. Family was most important, right after his God. He insisted on prayers before each meal, prayed for his family, and trusted God to see him through. Russ died suddenly on February 11, 2015, after struggling with a heart condition for many months and looking forward to an aortic valve replacement on February 17 and looking forward to a return to health. He endured with grace. Survivors are wife Sue of Eddyville, daughter Penny and her husband Kurt Harmoney, daughter Karen and her husband Ken Vogel. Grandchildren Thad and Philip Harmoney, Alex and Ben Koeppe, and Josh Vogel all of Omaha. Brothers, Glen and wife, Dorothy of Broken Bow and Harold of Broken Bow; mother-in-law, Ila Wright of Kearney; brothers-in-law Robert Trembly, Gary Wright and wife, Sandy of Broken Bow; sister-in-law, Janice Hanner and husband, C.J. of Lincoln, and special nephew, Robert Trembly and his wife Kathy of Hershey. Also many nieces, nephews and friends. Preceding him in death were parents, brothers Gerald and Kenneth; sisters Zola Trembly and Pearl and her husband Truman Ludlow, Sister-in-law Doris Bayne and his father-in-law, Dale Wright on January 30, 2015.

Russell R. Bayne

March 12, 1931 - February 11, 2015