Russell Mette
Russell Mette, age 64, of Salem, passed away Sunday, July 21, 2024 at Madison Regional Health System.
Funeral service will be 11 AM on Friday, July 26th at Rustand-Weiland Funeral Chapel with Pastor Diane Stangohr of Beach United Methodist Church officiating. Visitation will be 5-7 PM on Thursday at Rustand-Weiland Funeral Chapel and will continue on Friday one hour prior to the service. Military honors will be immediately following the service. Burial will be in Graceland Cemetery, Howard.
Russell Jay Mette was born on May 9th, 1960, to Howard and Violet (Thompson) Mette in Madison, SD. He attended school in Howard, SD and got his diploma in 1978. He then joined the Howard National Guard in 1977 and was sent to Fort Leonard Wood for training. He had an honorable discharge in 1982. He married Diane Rudebusch in September of 1978, and they lived in Madison, SD and had 4 children. In June of 1994, Russ married Kathy Puthoff and they resided in Madison, Kathy had 4 children. Russ worked many jobs starting with Trims Tree Service then Wenks in Madison and then he found a talent in the paint department of many manufacturing jobs which included Arctic Cat in Madison, Tiger in Sioux Falls, SD, Buehlers in Salem, SD and finally Gehl in Madison, SD.
Russ enjoyed spending time with friends, he was very outgoing and talked to everyone. Russ loved fishing and just being outside. In his younger days, Russ and his wife Kathy were in a dart league, this brought him great joy and he was pretty good at it too! Russ also enjoyed road hunting for pheasants. Russ also loved baseball, he played in a softball league in his younger days and every year the Mette family would have a softball reunion in Howard that we all looked forward to. Russ was a die-hard Minnesota Vikings and Twins fan and loved watching NASCAR racing and cheering for Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Russ is survived by his 3 children, Liz (Brian) Unzelman of Winfred, SD, Brian (Robyn) Mette of Wasilla, AK, Robert Mette of Madison, SD. Russ had 4 step- children: Carrie Soto of Sioux Falls, SD, Adam (Emilee) Puthoff of Salem, SD, Ben (Jessica) Puthoff of Worthington, MN, and Marc (Angel) Puthoff of Madison, SD. Russ has 18 grandchildren: Stormy, Kayden, Isabelle, Gillian, Krystalyn, Camden, Chase, Haleah, Michael, Willow, Logan, Harper, Hannah, Jacob, Olivia, Jameson, Ella and Zoe. He is also survived by 2 sisters: Sherry (Vern) Dixon of Lake Benton, MN and Lori (Ron) Tiesen of Baltic, SD, lifelong friend/brother Gary (Patty) Ristesund of Montrose, SD and many nieces and nephews and significant other Tracey.
Russ is preceded in death by his parents: Howard and Violet Mette, his wife Kathy Mette a daughter Dawn Mette, a niece Amy Jo Dixon and a nephew Damon Goodrich.
