Leora Russman

Leora Fern (Swanson) Russman, 101, of Bancroft, Ne, passed away Friday, July 01, 2016, at the Pender Community Hospital in Pender, NE. Funeral services will be Wednesday, July 6, 2016 at 1:00 p.m. at the Presbyterian Church in Bancroft; Pastor Charity Potter will be officiating. The visitation will be Tuesday, July 5, 2016 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Munderloh-Smith Funeral Home in Bancroft. Memorials may be directed to the family for future designation. Arrangements are under the direction of Munderloh-Smith Funeral Home in Bancroft. Leora was born February 9, 1915 on a farm west of Lyons, NE to Charlie and Emma (Lange) Swanson and was baptized January 30, 1916 in Pipestone, MN into the Lutheran faith. Leora attended Jefferson Country School north of Lyons through tenth grade and graduated in 1933 from Lyons High School. Leora married Arthur L. Russman on June 7, 1934 in Elk Point, SD, the couple had one child, LaNel. They lived on the farm north of Bancroft until December 1978 when a fire destroyed their home. They moved to the Catholic parsonage in Bancroft until they bought a house in 1981. Leora had been a resident of Legacy Garden in Pender since April 2016. She enjoyed raising chickens and having a garden, and loved to sew her own clothes and bake. She was a member of the Jolly Neighbors Club, the North Club and the Presbyterian Ladies Aid. Leora is survived by her son, LaNel “Boots” Russman; and sister, Delores Carlson of Oakland, NE, and many nieces, nephews, and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Arthur in 1981; parents; sisters, Ethel Beck, Regina “Jean” Russman, Iona Swanson, Phyllis Brecher, and June (Audrey) Frank.