Marian Alice Russell

Marian Alice Thunberg Russell, passed on Tuesday, May 11, 2021 at her home in Lakewood, CA. Marian was born on December 11, 1932 in Rogers, ND, as the youngest child of Martin and Helen Thunberg. She was the youngest of six children, growing up on the family farm in Rice Lake, WI. It was the Depression, and farm life was basic—feeding cows, tending-to and eating-from the family garden, cheese from the local cheese maker, and the occasional hog or cow for meat. Only later in life did we learn that she actually would be driven to school on snowy days by her father in the family’s working sleigh. She found the whole experience embarrassing: Who would want to go to school in a one-horse open sleigh?

Music was always a large part of Marian’s life, beginning with music in the farmhouse, but leading to her first gig as a professional accordionist in the Lee Allen polka band, playing country dances and with a regular Friday evening radio show. Music was a constant theme throughout her life with her accordions, pianos, organ, and music constantly in the air at home.

Immediately after high school, she traveled across the country on a Greyhound bus, arriving in Los Angeles in 1950. She began working as an executive secretary at an industrial plant (Ford’s Spring & Bumper factory) in central LA where she met her husband, Donald Russell. They married in 1953 and lived in Compton for several years, having two children (Dan and Kathryn). Five years later, they moved to Arizona, where their daughter Ruth was born.

The family returned to Los Angeles, where their son Jeff was born. Lakewood would be her home for the next 56 years.

Going back to school at age 49, Marian attained her nursing degree in 1983 from Long Beach City College. Afterwards, Marian was a professional office nurse who was beloved in the practice for caring for each patient as an individual.

After her retirement at age 85, and after working as a nurse for 35 years, Marian couldn’t leave the medical field completely post-retirement, and volunteered at the Artesia Christian Home and at the Memory Care Center each week until the COVID pandemic stopped all volunteering.

Marian is survived by four children and their spouses, (Daniel & Lynne, Kathryn & David, Ruth & Lori, Jeffrey) and seven grandchildren (Matthew, Timothy, Luke, Christian, Natalie, Christopher, Katherine), scattered between California and Pennsylvania. Marian was predeceased by her husband, who passed away in 2001.

A memorial service will be held on May 29, 2021, 10AM Pacific Time, at the First Artesia Christian Reformed Church, 18411 Alburtis Ave, Artesia, CA. (562) 865-4947  The service will be streamed live at bit.ly/marianservice

Luyben Dilday Mortuary (562) 425-6401