FRANCES "FRAN" MARGUERITE RUSSELL, 56, of Fort Dodge, Iowa, quietly slipped off to Heaven in the early morning hours of Friday, July 2, 2010 at the Paula J. Baber Hospice Home in Fort Dodge, after bravely battling her second bout of cancer.

Fran was born on March 5, 1954 in Grand Island, Nebraska to Stanley & Phyllis (Miller) Hilty. She graduated from Grand Island Public High School in 1972. In Fran's early years she worked at the Grand Island Veterans Hospital. It was in Grand Island that Fran met and married John Russell on August 17, 1979.

Fran and John together raised three children, daughters Kimberly, Holly and son Brandon. Their children's early schooling were in Grand Island, but in 1988 John's job as an Air Traffic Controller relocated their family to Fort Dodge, Iowa.

Fran was a loving wife and stay at home mother. She enjoyed many activities, including playing on her dart league, traveling with Joan to visit family in Burlington, Des Moines, and Kansas City area as well as many other road trips. Spending time with family and friends was a favorite for Fran. Just a week before Fran passed, Joan and Fran spent a week in Burlington with loving family members. She was feeling good and had a wonderful time, being busy each day with activities.

Anyone who knew Fran, knew she was an animal lover. She always took the time to stop and inquire and pet and love anyone's pet she encountered. Fran also always had a pet or two of her own to love and spoil. This trait has been passed on to her three children.

She was preceded in death by her parents Stanley and Phyllis Hilty of Grand Island, Nebraska.

She is survived by her loving husband of 30 years John R. Russell of Fort Dodge, Iowa; a sister Debra ( Jerry) Jeffers of Grand Island Nebraska; daughters: Kimberly Russell (Jon Zuspann) of Oak Grove, Missouri; Holly Russell (Chris Peters) of Topeka Kansas; son Brandon Russell of Blue Springs, Missouri; sister-in-law and brother-in-law Joan and James Forcier of Cherokee, Iowa; Fran is also survived by many other relatives and friends.

The family has carried out Fran's wishes to be cremated. There will be no viewing or any public service.

A small private service was held on Saturday, July 3rd in Fort Dodge and private family graveside services will be held at the Oak Hill Cemetery in Cherokee on Friday July 9th. The Boothby Funeral Home in Cherokee is assisting the family with the arrangements. Online condolences can be left at www.boothbyfuneral.com

Cards can be sent to: John R. Russell, 1274 7th Ave. North, Ft. Dodge, Iowa 50501.