Russ White

Russell D. White (Russ), 97, left this earth on September 21, 2025. Russ was born on September 4, 1928, in Garfield County, Nebraska to Clarence and Leah (Owen) White. He was raised on a farm northeast of Burwell where, along with his brothers, Cecil and Darrell, he learned the values of hard work and discipline. It was also where he began to learn to build and work on motors. After high school, when he was 18, he rode his 4-cylinder Indian motorcycle to Colorado to visit family in Denver and Boulder. He decided to stay in Colorado for a while and got his first job at a lumberyard in Boulder. He worked various other jobs, including as a miner and as a truck driver, delivering milk between Boulder and Denver.

He met his wife, Emma Mae Higgins, in Colorado and they married on October 16, 1949. Their first son, Dennis D. White, was born July 26, 1950. In May 1951, Russ joined the Air National Guard and was stationed in Enid, Oklahoma. He worked as a mechanic and transport driver. He was honorably discharged in June 1952. Russell and his family moved back to Boulder. His son, Ricky R. White, was born March 25, 1956. Although his period of service was short, Russ was always proud to have served his country. He enjoyed a trip to Washington D.C. in May 2014 on a North Colorado Veteran’s Honor Flight.

Russ’s true talent was work as a machinist. He spent a long and admired career at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder (NCAR). A highlight of his career at NCAR was his involvement in the fabrication of rocket air samplers and traveling to White Sands, New Mexico for the launches. After his retirement, Russ and Emma Mae moved to Loveland, Colorado in 1994. Russ resided there until he moved back to Burwell, Nebraska, following the passing of his son Dennis in 2023.

Russ’ passion was collecting and working on motorcycles. He had amassed an impressive collection over his lifetime. His pride and joy was a 1951 Indian and side car, which won a trophy at the Sturgis Bike Rally in 1976. He also enjoyed tractors and attending tractor shows. Russ and Emma Mae enjoyed traveling, boating, camping, snow skiing, attending auctions, and spending quality time with family and friends. Russ never knew a stranger, so their life was enriched by many friends. After Russ retired, he continued to operate his own repair shop on their property in Loveland. Their vast collection of equipment, motorcycles, model tractors and motorcycles, Native American pottery, Disney figures, dolls, and countless antiques was admired by all who stopped by and provided plenty of opportunity for conversation.

Russ was also a talented musician. He enjoyed playing all types of instruments, including the guitar, steel guitar, and keyboard. This was a talent he passed on to both sons. In his early years in Colorado, he played in a honky-tonk band, The Rocky Mountain Playboys.

Russ was a proud grandfather of granddaughters Christine White and Kathleen Ramirez-Solorzano, and grandson Joseph White. Russ was also very close to his niece, Wanda Eberle, and nephews, Warren, Wayne, and Weylon White. Russ and Emma Mae loved the mountains, and it was a thrill for them to share the mountains with their Nebraska relatives.

An employee appraisal of Russ completed in 1977 sums up well the kind of person Russ was. “Exceptional mechanical aptitude in a broad range of skills, applies a high level of ingenuity”; “pleasant and easy to get along with, well-liked by all staff he encounters.” Russ lived a full and long life, longer than most, but he will be missed by many.

Russ was preceded in death by his parents, both brothers, his wife, and both sons. He is survived by his granddaughters Christine and Kathleen, grandson Joseph, and 10 great grandchildren.

A celebration of life will take place at a later date.

Memorials are suggested to Boys Town in Omaha, Nebraska and the First Congregation United Church of Christ in Burwell, Nebraska.