Russell Allen Witt

He was born May 9, 1920, in Arcadia, Nebraska to Frank Witt and Olfa Hansen. He was one of six kids born into a farming and ranching family. In 1944 he married Fern Aldridge from Ord, Nebraska (d. 1998).

In 1941 at 21 years old, Russ trained at California’s Camp Robinson and spent three years serving in an artillery division in the Aleutian Islands off of Alaska, some of those islands were still occupied by the Japanese. He also spent time at Fort Bragg, and then in the Philippines as the war ended. Russ was honorably discharged as a sergeant.

He received the American Defense Service medal, the American Service medal, Asiatic Pacific Service medal, Good Conduct medal and World War II Victory medal.

Post-war he and Fern bought a 200-acre farm in Lamar, Missouri, but the dry times in the 1950s forced them to sell the farm and move to Kansas City. Russ then worked at Bendix (later Honeywell) until he retired in 1985.

An avid horseman, Russ raised, trained and showed numerous horses over decades. He loved team penning cattle and sharing the love of horses with young people. His love of trail riding had him receive a 20-year buckle from the Cross Country Trail Ride in mountainous Eminence, Missouri, on his last ride there 2006 at age 86. In 2013 he received the Purina Dream Ride in the Flint Hills Trail Riding Champion and the Inaugural Purina Better Horses Hall of Fame Award buckles. In years past he has also ridden on trail rides in Fort Robinson, Nebraska, Custer, South Dakota, and has ridden in the Kansas City American Royal parade. He received the oldest rider trophy in 2003 from the Shriner’s ride in La Cygne, Kansas. His last trail ride in the Kansas Flint Hills was when he was 87.

His horse showing highlights included winning a halter class with his American Paint Horse mare Fancy Fancy at the Missouri State Fair in 2000, and, at 83, winning a local western pleasure class on a two year old palomino mare he bred.

In 2016, Russ participated in the Honor Flight Network™ trip for veterans to Washington, D.C., which he counts as one of the greatest highlights of his life. A year or so later, Russ donated $10,000 to the KC Honor Flight group so that other veterans could participate.

Recently Russ was recognized with a plaque and pin from the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 317, Kansas City, MO.

Russ will be buried in Ord, Nebraska, next to his wife Fern.

Russ is beloved by his friends, former neighbors and his longtime horse family.