Services for Russell Houston Garmen, 92, of Wilder, who died Tuesday, Nov. 12, at
home, will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at the Dakan Funeral Chapel, Caldwell, with the Rev.
Sam Hendrix of the Caldwell Memorial Park Baptist Church and the Rev. Doug Larzelier of
the Wilder Golden Gate Baptist Church officiating. Interment will follow at the Wilder
Cemetery.
Mr. Garman, a retired farmer and orchardist, was born Jan. 11, 1893, at Haldane,
Ill., to Stephen Douglas and Mary Caroline Hershey Garman. In 1904, he moved to Caldwell
with his family and divided his time attending school there, helping clear the Wilder
area homestead of sagebrush and constructing irrigation ditches. They were among the
first homesteaders on the Wilder Bench and hauled their drinking water from the Snake
River. He participated in Fargo community activities, playing baseball and acting in
plays. He served in the Army during World War I. He married Vergie Rankin Dec. 7, 1924,
at Fruitland. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with an open house at their
home south of Wilder in 1984. They spent their entire married life on Garman Hill. He
enjoyed watching the desert being changed into productive farm land and in 1980 was
honored by the town of Wilder, during their 4th of July celebration, as the oldest living
pioneer in the Wilder area. He helped record the history of the area for various
organizations.
He was an active member of the Veterans of World War I of the U.S.A., Inc. He enjoyed
raising sheep and served as a member and director of the Parma Wool Pool for many years.
He was a member of the Lutheran Church in Polo, Ill., and attended the Golden Gate
Baptist Church in Wilder for many years.
He is survived by his wife of Wilder; a son, Houston S. Garman of Wilder; three
daughters, Helen (Mrs. Glenn) Karn of Boise, Hester (Mrs. Gail) Tuttle of Homedale,
Harriet (Mrs. Jene) Ambrose of Ogden, Utah; 14 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by three brothers, a sister and two infant sons.
Memorials may be made to the Salvation Army or a favorite charity, in care of Dakan
Funeral Chapel, P.O. Box 1386, Caldwell, 83606.
Friends may call at the chapel today from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to
noon.