On June 15, 2024, Russell "Russ" Dale Rothe, 84, departed for an undisclosed destination, where he was sure he would reunite with many friends.

Russ was born in Minneapolis, MN to Ervin A. and Eva S. Rothe on May 6, 1940. He attended Richfield High School and graduated in 1958. Upon graduation, he joined the U.S. Army and served with the 82nd Airborne Division for 4 years. (He later cautioned his children, "that's what happens if you don't get good grades in school: they push you out of airplanes!") After his Honorable Discharge he worked as an over-the-road trucker, then an Air Traffic Controller for the FAA. He married Elizabeth "Bette" Melartin in 1965 and they had two children, Steven "Steve" and Laurel "Lauri" Rothe, in whom they instilled a love of animals and the outdoors, and a strong work ethic. Russ and Bette lived on a farm in Cannon Falls, then purchased property and developed a campground in Ash River. Their marriage lasted 25 years before ending in divorce.

From an early age, Russ loved the idea of travel and adventure, and was especially fascinated with airplanes (which he watched from his classroom overlooking the Minneapolis airport, to the despair of his teachers) and trains. The summer that he was 16 he hopped a freight train and wandered the western United States, working odd jobs and learning about life and this country. He came home to his long-suffering parents just before the school year started. That summer's adventure was a pivotal moment in his life, and it cemented a lifelong love of wandering.

When Russ was 33 and working as an Air Traffic Controller, another seminal event occurred: he took his first college course. He caught fire with the joy of learning in a way that his earlier school years never had sparked, and his endless curiosity eventually led to his Ph.D. in Ancient Studies from the University of Minnesota at the age of 55. He moved to Cairo, Egypt for an academic year after retiring from the FAA. For his doctoral and post-doctorate research he specialized in Egyptian Desert research. He spent many seasons surveying the Eastern Desert of Egypt on foot, tracing trade routes and documenting inscriptions carved into rock walls during the times of the Pharaohs. Later, he guided groups through that desert area in their search for even older rock art. During the summer months he lived in Duluth and worked for the University in its Archaeometry Lab.

Russ pursued his passion for aviation as much as time and money would allow during his younger years, then set flying aside for some decades. In 1996, he resumed advanced pilot training. It was in an Instrument rating ground school that he met Nancy Smith, the woman who would become his second wife. They had common interests from the start: in addition to flying, there were sailing and sailboat races; playing guitar and singing; long walks and conversations; and a shared curiosity about the world. Nancy considered him her star student! They married in May 1997. It shows the strength and mutual respect of their marriage that Russ took his advanced flight lessons from Nancy, and then became a flight instructor in his own right. He flew for Twin Ports Flying Service in Superior, then moved on to Cirrus Aircraft as a Corporate Pilot. He flew Cirrus airplanes all over the United States and Canada, demonstrating or delivering airplanes and enjoying yet another career.

Upon retirement from Cirrus, Russ indulged his love of travel and exploration – and his hatred of Duluth's winters – by spending the winter months on the road with Nancy and their animals in a fifth-wheel trailer, traveling to wherever the temperatures were warm. In many ways it was like reliving his first career as an over-the-road trucker. The trucker's skills learned during his 20's served the couple well during his 70's and 80's.

Russ loved recreational argument and exploration of ideas. He also loved to entertain people by telling stories, singing songs, and playing the guitar. To his dying day, his memories and stories were happy ones. It's hard to know which career or adventure was his favorite. He lived and loved fully, and worked to be cheerful even as health challenges mounted. His evening reminiscences were always happy. He often remarked that he hoped he still had time for more adventures, but that it had been a grand and lucky life so far. He was fortunate to die quickly, of a brain hemorrhage, at the end of a fun, sunny and warm day.

Russ was preceded in death by his parents, Ervin A. and Eva S. Rothe; younger brother, Kurt Rothe; brothers-in-law, Gene Larson and Mike Griego; and former wife, Bette.

Russ is survived by his wife, Nancy Smith; brother, Allen Rothe (Lois Reisgraf); sisters, Sandy Larson and Paula Griego; son, Steve Rothe; daughter, Lauri (Jay) Tumberg; grandson, Brandon (Marissa) Tumberg and their son, Spencer; step-grandsons, Justin and Tyler Tumberg and their families; sisters-in-law, Christine Smith, Michele Rothe and Sue Rothe; and numerous nieces and nephews and their children.

Military Honors and Interment will be at the Minnesota Veterans Cemetery – Duluth on Friday, Sept. 13th at 2:00 PM. A celebration of Russ' extraordinary life will be held on Saturday, Sept. 14th from 1:00 – 5:00 PM at the Superior Municipal Airport, 4804 Hammond Avenue, Hangar 7, Superior, WI.

Please send memorial donations, if any, to one of these:

Lakewood Volunteer Fire Department, 3110 Strand Road, Duluth, MN 55803

St. Luke's Hospital Foundation, 1000 E. 1st Street, Duluth, MN 55802

Friends of the Duluth Public Library, 520 W. Superior Street, Duluth, MN  55802