Russell J. Newman, 65, died May 30, 2021, at his home in Fargo. Russ was born November 12, 1955 to Harold and Mary (Harwood) Newman in Fargo. He grew up and attended school in Jamestown, ND. He attended University of North Texas his first semester of college then transferred to University of North Dakota. Together, Russ and Billie Jo (McCalmont) raised their six children, as well as several foster children. He later married his wife Audrey and helped raise her son William.

Russ was a lifelong athlete excelling in many sports. When he was a child, Russ played golf, baseball, football, and basketball. He was on the Varsity squad as a freshman and made All-State in football at Jamestown High School. Although he was successful in any sport he played, golf was his passion. Before school, Russ would strap his golf clubs to his back and ride a scooter to the golf course to play 9 or 18 holes. Russ won many golf championships with some of his most notable wins being the Pine to Palm (1992, 1994), North Dakota Open Amateur (1995, 1999), North Dakota State Match Play, North Dakota State Stroke Play, and North Dakota State Seniors Championship (3-time champion). Not only was Russ a champion golfer, he was very involved in the golf community. He was a board member for the North Dakota Golf Association and was inducted into the North Dakota Golf Association Hall of Fame in 2000. Beyond winning trophies and playing PGA courses all over the world from Pebble Beach to St. Andrews, Russ had an enormous passion for teaching kids the mechanics of golf. Any child that was willing to learn and improve their game, Russ was there to help. Although Russ’ short game was his expertise, he accumulated 11 holes-in-one in his lifetime.

As a child, Russ started working at Newman Signs with his father and held many roles from painting two-by-fours to serving as Vice President of the company. Russ was also a career entrepreneur with accomplishments including ownership of The Packaging Store, Newman Tree Farm, and Normex Pecan Farm. Russ served on multiple boards including Easter Seals and Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation.

Russ is survived by his wife, Audrey, Fargo; eight children: Kyle (Tara) Newman, Jamestown, Matthew (Amber) Newman, Linton, Rachel (Chris) Ebeling, Fargo, Amy Clark, Reno, NV, Ty (Sacha) Newman, Minnetrista, MN, Jake Newman, Fargo, Russell “Boomer” (Laura) Newman II, Fargo, and William Wadsworth, Scottsdale, AZ; 18 grandchildren, Bernadette Newman, Thomas Newman, Amelia Newman, James Newman, Peter Newman, Clare Newman, Mary Newman, Edward Newman, Noah Newman, Zayn Newman, VerLynn Newman, Ava Ebeling, Cooper Ebeling, Gunnar Ebeling, Colton Ebeling, Victoria Newman, Violet Newman, and Valentina Newman; his beloved mother Mary Newman, Fargo; four sisters, Kari (Leo) Ness, Jamestown, Nancy (Scott) Erickson, Fargo, Ruth (Sheldon) Tang, Minneapolis, MN, and Cheryl (Brent) Olson, Fargo; Billie Jo Newman, Fargo. He was preceded in death by his father, Harold Newman.

The family suggests memorials to Russ Newman Memorial Youth Golf Scholarship.