Russell Podoll
Russell E. Podoll, 75, of Brookings, SD, died Sunday, October 29, at Sanford USD Medical Center, Sioux Falls, SD.
Russell (Russ) Eugene Podoll was born on September 13, 1948, to Raymond and Eleanor (Bohling) Podoll in Aberdeen, SD. He grew up on the family farm near Columbia, SD. He attended parochial school in Columbia and high school in Frederick, SD. Russ played basketball and football at Frederick High School. Upon graduating in 1966, Russ went on to attend college at the University of North Dakota Ellendale Division, where he enjoyed basketball and theater.
Russ joined the US Army on August 20, 1970, and received his honorable discharge on February 29, 1972. Russ married the love of his life, Monica Salwei, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Columbia, SD, on September 3, 1977. They would go on to enjoy forty-six years of marriage, cherishing time with their children and grandchildren.
Russ spent his entire forty-five-year career repairing and building roads. He worked for Pickus Construction, Lien Transportation, Remixer Contracting, Brown County Highway Department, and Butler Machinery. He enjoyed everything surrounding road building from heavy equipment to pavers to screens and all things aggregate industries.
Russell was a member of Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in Brookings, SD, where he was active in Men's Club. He was a past member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Columbia, Trinity Lutheran Church, Tyler, TX, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Aberdeen, and Immanuel Lutheran Church in Fargo, ND. Over the years he was active as a church Elder, served on various boards, ushered, and taught Sunday school. He had a strong faith and loved his Lord and his family dearly.
He attended as many of his grandchildren’s sporting events and activities as he could. They were truly the light of his life. Though his job kept him on the road a lot, he still loved to travel with his family. He played softball, loved pheasant hunting, watching NDSU Bison football, and enjoyed tinkering on cars and machines on the farm. Russ was proud of his 1973 Cougar XR7 convertible that he bought new and recently restored.
Grateful for having shared Russell’s life are his wife: Monica Podoll; two children: Peyton (Jeremy) Bierman and Andrew (Meredith) Podoll; grandchildren: Hannah, Jack, Owen and Harper Bierman and Pierson Podoll; his siblings: Keith (Elaine) Podoll and Glenn (Kathy) Podoll; brothers-in-law: Ron Salwei, Leo (Katie) Salwei, Charlie (Denise) Salwei, Roger (Tina) Salwei, and Steve (Peggy) Salwei; and his sisters-in-law: Marcella (Ron) Watkins, Marlys (Mark) Corn and Melinda Salwei.
Preceding Russell in death are his parents: Raymond and Eleanor; his siblings: Yvonne Zillmer, Lee (Kathy) Podoll, and Dean Podoll; his parents-in-law: Frank and Marilyn Salwei; sister-in-law: Marlene (Mart) Zomers.