Dan Charles Russell

Dan Charles Russell passed away December 26, 2017 surrounded by his children. He was born in Mesa, Arizona in January of 1930 to Ethel and Ernest Russell, the fourth of their five sons. Dan attended Mesa High School where he excelled at athletics, particularly football, setting records as the quarterback. Football became Dan’s ticket to college earning him scholarships to first University of Arizona, then Utah State.
Aside from starting quarterback for the Aggies, Dan participated in ROTC and Sigma Chi Fraternity. It was at a fraternity dance that Dan met the love of his life, Manon Caine. Their love story would have to wait however; after graduation Dan left to fulfill his commitment to the Army and Manon left for California to attend graduate school. In the Army, Dan served in Anti Aircraft Artillery, became a pilot, went to Korea as an Army Aviator, then finished his service as a flight instructor. Dan flew in the reserves for 2 years and served for 12 years as a flight instructor for the National Guard.
Dan returned from the war, Manon returned from graduate school and in 1956 they were married. The next two years they lived in New York City, where Dan earned an MBA from NYU. The young couple enjoyed the culture of the city including the music, opera, museums and theater available there.
After New York, they returned to Utah, living in Brigham City where Dan was employed by Thiokol Corporation. The next years were devoted to raising their three children. In Brigham City, Dan and Manon enjoyed a great circle of friends, many of whom they would keep for the rest of their lives. Dan learned to ski and loved it, taking his kids to Beaver Mountain Sundays in the winter. He also deeply loved Hebgen Lake, Montana, where the family spent their summers. Dan would fly or drive up from Brigham City to be with his wife and kids on the weekends.
In 1979 Dan retired from Thiokol. This gave him more time to travel—the couple liked Italy in particular, returning many times through the years, and more time to live in their favorite places: Hebgen in the summer, where Dan loved to fish and paint and Palm Desert, California, where he loved to golf. Both were gathering places for friends and family.
In 1998 Dan and Manon moved to Logan, coming full circle, back to where they met. Philanthropy became the focus during these years, supporting the arts in Northern Utah, and the arts at Utah State University where they had both gone to school. Dan’s business/organizational skills and generous friendly manner were a key asset to this phase of their lives. Relationships with Logan friends, including professors, administrators and students from USU became a great joy to Dan and Manon.
Dan loved Manon, his children, his friends, his family, a good joke, a moving performance, food and drink, natural and artistic beauty, and music of all kinds. He knew intimately how to throw a football, pilot a plane and more importantly how to be a supportive husband, father and friend.

He leaves his 3 children, their spouses and his grandchildren – his daughter Marie Shaw, her husband Michael and their daughter Ella of Whitefish, MT; son Daniel Russell, his wife Sally and their children Ian and Addison of Logan, UT; and son David Russell, his wife Barbi and their children Luna and Duncan of Seattle, WA. His parents; brothers-Stewart, David, Ralph and Ray; and his wife Manon passed before him.

Private internment at the Logan Cemetery as soon as the family can gather. In lieu of flowers or donations please have a good meal, a nice visit with friends and family, or enjoy your favorite thing to do. Condolences may be made online at www.allenmortuaries.net .