Russell Allen White, 57 years old, Ta-Wasu-To (His Blue Hail) aka “Nuts” of Oswego, MT passed away on August 27, 2014 to be with the Creator due to a long battle with cancer. He fought it to the end; he said “He wouldn’t give up.” Russell was born on February 20, 1957 to Margaret Faye White and Granville Hawley, Sr.
He grew up and attended school in Frazer, MT. He graduated from Frazer High School in 1975. Russell was always a hard worker and worked various jobs. He worked as a ranch hand for many years before he decided to go into politics. He was elected Sargent-at-Arms in 1999-2003. He worked for Offtedal Highway Construction and Apollo Construction.
He enjoyed traveling to and from powwows and dancing, family gatherings, watching football, basketball, and baseball, playing and umpiring softball. He also was an avid fisherman and hunter and enjoyed watching and cheering on Jackson Inc. He was a great crew boss and fire fighter. He loved taking his evening back road drives with the love of his life, Lupe.
Russell sang with the Red Bottom singers in the 1970’s and enjoyed cooking big pots of tripe soup or beef for family functions and feeds. He always honored his traditional Indian ways.
Russell met the love of his life, Lupe Hall in 1989. She changed his life forever. Russell and Lupe got married on November 9, 1996. To this marriage, they had a son, Justin and daughter, Nicole, whom he raised as his own. Nicole gave him 2 grandchildren, Kiona and Baby Zach, whom he loved very much; they were his pride and joy. He was anxiously waiting for his new grandbaby due in March 2015. He raised a special nephew, Roger Dale White, Jr., whom he loved and treated him as his own son.
He is survived by his wife, Lupe; son, Justin White (Alyssa); daughter, Nicole White (Kevin); grandchildren, Kiona and Baby Zach; brothers, Roger White, Sr. of Wolf Point, Granville, Jr., Kuch, Chester, Morgan, and Clayton Hawley of Hays, MT, Richard (Phoebe) Blount of Wolf Point, Tommy Blount of Frazer, MT, Waylon Novy and Michelle Blount of Wolf Point, Curt Standing of Oswego; sisters, Tammy Olsen of Miles City, MT, Carol (Karl) Wallette of Wolf Point, Vicki (Tom) Dahl of Williston, ND, Melanie (Michael) Cole of Frazer; adopted mothers, Ruth Todd of Frazer, and Pauline Escarsega of Wyota, Mt; adopted dad, Joe Beston, Sr. of Frazer; dads, Hank Flynn of Oswego and Harold Dean Blount of Frazer; brother, Sanford “Mick” Hawley; sister, Faith Ann Hawley of Mountain Home, ID.
He was preceded in death by his mothers, Faye White and Sadie Follet Blount; brother, Sanford “Mick” Hawley; and dad, Granville Hawley, Sr.
A prayer service will be held 7 p.m. Friday, August 29 at the Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel in Wolf Point. A funeral service will be held 10 a.m. Saturday, August 20 at the Oswego Community Hall in Oswego, MT. Interment will follow at the Oswego Presbyterian Cemetery. A four day feast will follow at the Oswego Community Hall. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel of Wolf Point has been entrusted with the arrangements.