The Life, The Legacy: Russ Cebulski Turns 95

The history and memories span 95 years; he's seen his ups and down, shed tears of joy, pain, and grief.

Though his birthday was on Thursday, April 20, Malta's Russ Cebulski observed his 95th circle around the earth with a reception at the Little White Church on Sunday, April 23, where family and friends celebrated his milestone.

In preparing to visit with this stately gent, with the appointment confirmed; he stated that he wanted the PCN reporter to see something.

After a venture to the north side of town, on the highway to Canada, he made a right hand turn at the second approach and stopped and got out of his vehicle.

"Since we're doing my history...this is right where it started," Cebulski said. "I was born in this house 95 years ago and the house is still standing."

And standing it was, though it was not entered and Cebulski and the reporter did not get any closer than the highway, the little house stood nestled in the tall grass that was laying down yet from winter's rest. The little one story house looked like it could indeed tell stories.

Returning to his home, Russ Cebulski, who, if not the elder most male in town he certainly runs an honorable challenge.

Fred Allery left Malta at age 96, moved to Billings, and Bud Johnson, age 94, had just passed away in early April.

When pondering over the elderly in our county, Saco is the home to the eldest female Esther Brosseau. Longtime Malta resident Gloria Taylor is 103, and currently lives in Glasgow.

In conversation with Bud one day early this year, it was discussed if he might be the eldest male in the county. Bud just grinned that quiet little grin of his and replied, "Oh no...I'm still young, I'm only 94!"

Age does not seem to scare Russ, he's lived the life, he's seen life and he's pleased to have made it half-way through the ninth decade of living. Still able to live alone, drive, and enjoy a good cup of coffee with some of the best BS'ers in town, life has treated him good.

Born in 1928, just on the edge of the "Dirty 30's," he vividly remembers those days of the depression era. He was the second son and child born to the family of Nick and Bertha Cebulski, joining older brother, Ray.

The two boys grew up knowing what work was and having to work and save up for something they might want. "We were all poor, we just didn't know it...," as the saying goes, he reflected on the hard times that build character and instill work ethics as we grew, and we were all in the boat together.

Early in his childhood, his mother became sick and had to be taken to the hospital in Havre; she went up on the skidoo (on the railroad) as there were no ambulance services. It was serious enough that arrangements were made that if need be, his aunt would raise the two boys.

"Our parents didn't just buy us things when we wanted it...we earned it..." through being frugal and miser-minded. It took quite a while and some refrained saving and penny counting to save up, and money for a bike; Sometimes a year or more.

Russ grew up as one of the kids in the neighborhood, always looking to have fun, occasionally a little harmless mischievous action, but never anything juvenile or doing deliberate damage.

"We all had to work too hard for what little we had, and none of us were malicious or mean," Cebulski said. "We just enjoyed each other's company and being friends."

He said that the negativity, the ills (poor choices) that are plaguing the community now were never an issue in his days.

He recalled a friend, a small quiet kid, who came to school from the country who was picked on relentlessly by a bunch of kids.

"One day he came to school and the kids were really picking on him and I decided to step in and help him," Cebulski said. "I was going at it and helping and one kid ran into the school and told Mrs. Willco that I had started the fight on the playground. She came running out and grabbed me by the neck, took me inside and took the rubber hose to my rear-end and beat me."

"Back in the days..." as most of history is usually shared, the days for Russ were pretty routine. He recalled his younger life and what they did for entertainment. Many free hours were spent on the ice rink or on the roller skating floors. His wisdom at 95 is strong with the old song, "You Can't Roller Skate in a Buffalo Herd." He got a chuckle with the comparison to today's quandary with the free-roaming buffalo issue. Who would have imagined that might come to be in the next 100 years?

Like the youth of his days, he kept busy, however he enjoyed being a kid. One grew up friends with all the kids in the neighborhood, friends were valuable and trusted. The setting of the sun meant it was time to get home. If someone was in need, someone was there.

Growing up he and his brother Ray roomed at the Olive Apartments when in high school. He was active in band for seven years, playing clarinet and sax; even traveling to Canada to compete. Russ was also active in DeMolay.

According to Cebulski, entertainment was pretty limited...time was spent at the store when they had cash in hand for candy. Russ had his first car in high school, and it was a beaut... a '36 Ford. Carpooling got its start in those days, few kids had cars, but they managed to come up with enough cash for gas and they cruised the town.

Russ remembers his first girlfriend, Irma Jean Lieb, the younger sister of Harold Lieb, who many will remember owning Edwards & McLellen on the corner now owned by Scott and Gina Simanton, currently "Julia's Junque." Their dates were (besides cruising) were spent at the Palace Theatre, where admission was twenty-five cents.

"They usually had a drawing for a pair of roller skates or something so it was worth taking a chance on," Cebulski said.

In high school he started his work history list. He was a produce bagger at the local grocery store, Kronstonabel's. He also landed a job at the local Ford garage, relining brake shoes and clutch plates for twenty-five cents a day.

"I was pretty excited when I got a raise at Christmas and started getting thirty-cents an hour!" he said.

He probably wishes he had that job when he was at a point in his life when hard times got harder and he spent 30 days in a row putting up hay in the heat of the summer, getting as much work in during the day as they could.

"You took what work you could get and it was work!" Cebulski said. "One didn't complain and was just grateful to have work!"

That job paid a dollar a day.

He and his brother went to work a couple years after he graduated for the Miller Ranch on Fort Belknap. It was here that Russ met the love of his life, Miss Julia Warren. After the courtship they were married in Malta at the Little White Church.

"The Little White Church has always been in my life, I was baptized there 91 years ago, and we were married there," Cebulski said.

All their children and many of the family was baptized or married within the welcoming walls of the oldest church in Malta. Julia and Russ were married 70 years, and her funeral service was held there as well.

"I paid $150 for the wedding ring, and we went to South Dakota for the honeymoon weekend, and were back to work after that," Cebulski said.

Russ and Julia made their home in Malta, and had five children: Kenny, Duane, Nick, Ginger and Iris.

Russ managed the Texaco Bulk Plant for 13 years. He said it was always a dream on his "Bucket List" to fly, then added it was too expensive. He ran 250 head of sheep north of town and at a point in his life got into the flying business. He and son, Kenny, obtained their licenses, then became licensed to give lessons. Students could attend schooling at 16 and get licensed at 17. Kenny bought the business in the '70's.

This was the life he had dreamed of.

They bought and sold planes in addition to having flight lessons and started Russaero Flying Service. They were kept busy with three planes and working with the mine and other entities proving the only service in the sky ways. They also did commercial aerial crop spraying. Russ and Kenny provided the only method of getting to patients to larger hospitals, as ambulances weren't in the works, yet. They also did flights for the various mortuaries, bringing loved ones home one last time.

Russ said he hasn't had any health issues. As to repercussions from all the exposure to the chemicals, he replied, "I don't think so, think so, think so, think so..." rapidly and bursting out into a broad grin and chuckling."

At this point, Russ was asked if his life has been colorful, he smirked and said it had. Many who have spent much time with Russ and Kenny know they are characters. Russ admitted that the nut doesn't fall from the tree; and many have stories of Russ and Kenny. Many have taken plane rides with them and know how close they came to buildings or houses and were able to roll the plane over with precise efficiency as they mastered the skies. Both Russ and Kenny enjoyed practical, harmless jokes and pranks...kinda like a pair of prankster gangsters. Everything was always in fun, Russ said he enjoyed making people laugh.

As time was winding up on his visit with the PCN, Russ said words he would use to describe his life were simple. He didn't hesitate, responding life has been good, hard....and rewarding.

He grew up in one of the toughest eras in history and managed to emerge with his sense of humor and love for neighbor. He still enjoys a good cup of coffee and conversation with friends like Dickie Dale and enjoys the treats that often await them from the oven of Terri Cole, sharing "...she's a good cook and does so much for others," he said.

What does he want the younger kids to know? "Shut off the cell phone and visit – carry on a conversation!" he said emphatically.

When his kids, 15 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren think about him, what does he hope they remember?

"How very, very much I loved my wife and their mother...she was my world," he said. "I hope my kids will love their spouse as much as I loved my wife. It's hard, it still hurts and I get so lonely, especially at night.

"She died a very hard and painful death from cancer, that hurts as well." Teardrops slipped quietly down his cheek.

Ninety-five years of experiencing life in the good lane. What more could one ask? As this tribute is closed out, there's much that was discussed and laughed about.

Take time to visit with this mobile library of experience and wisdom. Time and space limits the PCN from sharing about the dinner at the park on Front Street that ended in Trafton Park with a political candidate... But feel free to check with Russ some quiet day.

Writer's Note: Happy birthday, Russ, and thanks for the visit. Let's do it again, when we meet "on the street."