Russell Jack Hayden passed away, on his own terms, at home, at age 91 on November 21st 2016.

He was born June 19th 1925 in Pocatello, Idaho to Swedish immigrant Johan August Bengtson Hayden, and Dora Ingeborg Torgerson, and bore a lifelong pride in his Scandinavian heritage. He was raised on a dry farm in the Crystal area of Arbon Valley, rode a horse with his siblings to the local one room school, graduating from Pocatello High School in 1943.

He joined the Navy at upon graduating to confirm what history will remember as "the greatest generation". He served his entire military career stationed on the U.S.S. Enterprise, which participated in more military action in the Pacific in WWII than any other U.S. ship. As a fireman and gunner on "the ghost ship", thought to have been sunk three times, he endured years of the travails of war. And while the scares of those engagements were always with him, he shared those memories only if asked, and then just in the most cursory of manners.

After the war, he graduated from ISU in geology, spending the majority of his career employed at FMC as an exploration geologist. His employment took him to New Mexico, Nevada, South America, and finally, Pocatello. His geological acumen resulted in significant finds of bentonite, gold, and phosphates in the northern and southern hemispheres.

Despite his world travels, he had an enduring love of ranch life; from riding a horse, to raising cattle, or the enlivening friendship of a dog.

He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings Norman, Walter, Carl, Ben, Emma, wife and longtime ISU librarian Maxine Baldwin Hayden, son Larry Robinson, and daughter Barbie Robinson. He is survived by wife Doris Bollar Hayden and her extended family, daughter-in-law Barbara Robinson, grandsons Larry Michael Westover, Urian Robinson, Jacob Robinson, and nephews Hans and Twain Hayden.

He had enjoyed the last 24 years with Doris ranching in Soda Springs and wintering in Mesquite, Nevada. His dry and engaging sense of humor was contagious and attractive to the many friendships he cultivated through his lifetime, including his extended family, geology colleagues, ranch neighbors, Rotary comrades, billiards sharks, fishing buddies, or casual acquaintances. His life is punctuated by the most one could hope for as an epitaph; "This was a life lived well".


Memorial services will be held on Saturday, June 24, 2017 at Noon at the Soda Springs Presbyterian Church starting with Military Honors. Family will visit with friends from 11-11:45 a.m. prior to services. A light luncheon will follow services.