Leo Russell Kerr, 83, of Missoula, went home to our Lord on Monday, May 27, 2013.
He was born July 17, 1929, to Laurence and Mary Elizabeth Hemmer Kerr on the Sam Kerr Dairy Farm in Victor, Montana. As a strong, healthy young boy, Russ helped work the farm and ran through the fields to the Victor school house to play football. His first paying job was mowing lawns. The Bitterroot Valley was one of his playgrounds. He proudly served our country, as a soldier in the United States Air Force. Russ remained a true patriot his entire life, a flag in one hand and a rifle in the other. After his years in the service Russ worked for the Lockheed Company on the Blackbird project, a very important era in our nation’s aerospace industry. He pursued continuing education, learning many subjects throughout his years, which led him into a long career as a respected journeyman electrician. Russ was very proud to be a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 46, for 35 years.
Russ kept busy with various activities such as hunting, fishing, metal detecting, gold panning, gardening, and he was almost always refining the performance of his diesel auto collection. He excelled at sharing his vast knowledge and passions for all his interests with his friends and family. After years of extensive medical concerns, he was out taking down over-grown trees in the yard of his home that was built at the turn of the century and kept in the Kerr family for nearly 70 years. Russ was learning to speak Spanish, with his voice like a velvet fog and a warm satirical smile.
Russ is preceded in death by his daughter Nola ReNell Medley, his brother John Laurence Kerr and his sister, Mary Julia Pickett. He is survived by his son, Leo Russell Kerr Jr., his grandsons, Nathaniel and Matthew of Clarksdale, Arizona as well as nieces, Marie Anderson of Kenmore, Washington, Anita Sailor of Colville, Washington and Pamela Keller of Pasco, Washington. Interment will be at the Victor Cemetery at 10:30 a.m. and a memorial will be held at Franklin Park on Friday, June 14, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. Condolences and memories may be left for the family at www.whitesittfuneralhome.com.