Russell Makeeff

Russell Makeeff, 81, of Mercer, ND, passed away Tuesday, September 3, 2024.

A funeral service will be held at 11 am on Monday, September 9, 2024, at GracePoint Church, Bismarck, ND with Rev Duncan Hannestad officiating. The burial will be at Fairview Cemetery. Visitation will be held 1 hour before the funeral services at GracePoint Church.

Russell was born June 26, 1943, in Turtle Lake, ND to Emanuel & Rosella (Fried) Makeeff. He attended Brush Lake Country School and later graduated from Mercer High School in 1961. After high school, Russell began to farm and later began a gravel business. Russell enjoyed hauling gravel to the surrounding area and visiting with friends along the way. Russell served as a McLean County special deputy and enjoyed racing cars. In 1963, Russell attended flight school, earning his private pilot's license in 1968. He drove a school bus for the Turtle Lake-Mercer school district where he and his brother, Myron, purchased and operated the first bus for the merged school district.

Russell was united in marriage to Deloris Zerr on October 14, 1967, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Bismarck, ND. 

Throughout Russell’s life, he was a strong advocate for North Dakota Renewable Energy and was known for sharing his views as a conservative Republican. Russell was an innovator, he designed, built, and later patented an add-on Rotor Kit for Case-IH Combines. Russell's love for wind energy motivated him to maintain two wind towers of his own on his farm. 

Russell was well known for his flying. Russell's passion for flying earned him the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award on March 5, 2024, given to those pilots who have practiced safe flight operations continuously for 50 or more years during the course of their aviation careers.

Russell enjoyed traveling, socializing with friends, family and his pilot buddies, flying his airplane, puttering in his shop, attending church, and watching his grandkids grow and play sports. Russell’s grandchildren, Tanner and Brady, were the apple of his eye. 

He is survived by his loving wife, Deloris of Mercer; 3 children and 2 grandchildren, Scott of Hastings Minnesota, Dawn (Lynn) of Hannaford, ND, and their children Tanner and Brady and Travis of Bismarck, ND; one sister, Deloris Howe of Minot, ND. 

Russell was preceded in death by his parents, and four brothers (Arnie, Perry, Raymond, Myron), and two sisters (Irene & Doris).