Elizabeth "Betty" Jean Russell

ELIZABETH “BETTY” JEAN RUSSELL

It is with deep love and profound sadness that we announce the passing of Elizabeth “Betty” Jean (Golding) Russell, 100, of Cass City. She passed away peacefully on June 17, 2026, in Bay City Michigan at Bay Shores Senior Care Facility after spending five loving years at Rachel Sovereign’s Memorial Home. Betty was born on March 23, 1926, in Bad Axe, Michigan, the daughter of the late Edward and Frances (Goodall) Golding.

Betty grew up in Cass City where she developed her strong work ethic, her devotion to family, and her strong Christian faith. That foundation helped her to grow a loving family with her love, Royce Russell. They were married on March 12, 1947 at First Presbyterian Church of Cass City.

Royce and Betty built a home on the Russell family farm in Gagetown where they started their family. Betty embraced life as a farmer’s wife and was a devoted mother who cherished her children, Bob, Janet, Susan, Diane, and Lisa. Betty’s faith which she shared with her family led to her taking on leadership roles as a Sunday School teacher, President of the Women’s Society, as well as organizing church dinners at the Gagetown United Methodist Church among other roles.

In 1982, Royce and Betty sold the family farm and moved to Cass City, where her family continued to grow with the addition of beloved in-laws and grandchildren. When she moved to Cass City, Betty was able to return to her home church of First Presbyterian Church of Cass City. Betty faithfully gave of her time and talents to serve the church as a deacon, elder, Women’s Association president where she loved to organize the yearly Rummage Sale and Christmas Teas. In addition to strong family relationships, she developed deep friendships at her church, coffee shop, hospital auxiliary, friends of the library, Northwood Meadows, and Rachel Sovereign. She used her excellent listening skills and exceptional memory to make people know that they were special and that she cared.

Left to cherish her memory are her children: Bob (Peg) Russell, Janet (John) Elsesser, Susan (Durrell) Caister, Diane (Jeff) Binder, Lisa (Scott) Wills; grandchildren: Hallie (Ryan) Guzal, Robert Russell, Elizabeth Elsesser, Matt (Margeaux) Elsesser, Nathaniel (Lisa) Caister, Allison (Brandon) Becker, Justin Binder, Chad (Cheryl) Binder, Nicole (Brendon) Fischel, Lauren Wills, and David Will; great-grandchildren: Owen, Ben, and Ella Guzal, Averie, Addison, and Aubrey Russell, Andi, Blake, and Sloane Elsesser, Emmarie Caister, and Amelia Becker as well as many nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of fifty years, Royce; brother, Edward Golding Jr, in-laws, Harriet and Jack Downing, Ron and Ruth Russell.

Funeral service held 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, June 24, 2026 in First Presbyterian Church, Cass City with Rev. Kim Strunz officiating. Interment will be in Grant Township Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church or the Rachel Sovereign Memorial Home, Bay City.

Visitation: 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 23, 2026 in Kranz Funeral Home, Cass City

10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 24, 2026 in First Presbyterian Church, Cass City

Arrangements by Kranz Funeral Home, Cass City