RAND J. RUSSELL

1956 – 2024

With much sadness and a heavy heart, we announce the passing of Rand J. Russell on February 19, 2024, after a long illness. Rand was born on November 12, 1956, the third of five children from John (aka Jerry) and Sharon Russell. Rand attended public schools in Roy, Utah and graduated from Roy High School in 1975.

Rand was an active participant in Little League Sports playing on numerous baseball and basketball teams, several of which were coached by his older brother. He particularly excelled as a baseball catcher and played that position on the Roy Junior High School team. Rand also snow and water skied and enjoyed bird hunting as a young man. Few could fire as many shotgun rounds in a short time (often missing the bird) than Rand. He also took up golf and became an accomplished player in his day. He spent many summer evenings in the family backyard playing basketball–teaming up with his father against his two brothers. Always competitive and fun with many special memories made.

After high school graduation he started what would be a lifelong career in the food distribution business–one in which he excelled–but first and more importantly he soon met his future wife, Janice Cummings, who was a fellow employee at the Smith’s distribution center in Salt Lake City, Utah. They married on May 1, 1992. Although Rand had no children of his own, he was warmly welcomed into Janice’s family and he loved them as his own.

Rand quickly advanced in his career at Smith’s and in 1990 moved to Arizona as department manager then serving in similar positions in California and back to Arizona in the ensuing six years. He was particularly proud of the integral part he played in the startup of three distribution centers, which shaped his career moving forward. He reached the pinnacle of his career in 2007 when he moved to Ontario, Canada and was general manager. In 2012 he was reassigned to the United States where he finished his career in Atlanta as facilities maintenance manager. With declining health, he retired in June 2022.

Rand was preceded in death by his mother Sharon (Hendry) and youngest sister Lana Wilcox. He is survived by his father Jerry (Gin), brothers Chad (Susan) and Brad (Vikki), and sister Gaylene (Dan). He is survived by his wife Janice, her son Terry (Melissa) Cummings, her daughter Jenny (Wade) Malmborg, and grandchildren MeKenzie (Charlie) Olsen, Kylie (Will) Ammons, Bridger and Amelia Cummings; Garrett, Mason, and Abbie Malmborg; and great grandson Luka Olsen.

At Rand’s request there will be no formal funeral service but there will be a celebration of life on June 29th in or around Ogden, Utah at a time and venue to be determined. If you would like please donate in Rand Russell’s name to the Humane Society of Northern Utah through Venmo @HSNU-rescue (last four digits of its phone number are 2719). You can also send a check to the Humane Society of Northern Utah, PO Box 2992, Ogden, UT 84409. We thank you in advance for your generosity. Lastly, to view a memorial page for Rand go to https://www.mckoon.com/obituaries/Rand-Russell.