Eleanor "Ellie" Russell, age 86, of Des Moines, formerly of Pocahontas, passed away on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at the Taylor House in Des Moines, Iowa.

Eleanor Irene Eckerson was born on September 29, 1939, in Fort Dodge, Iowa. She was the daughter of Lloyd and Leone (Hogan) Eckerson. Ellie graduated from Pocahontas Catholic High School in 1957 and went on to the University of Iowa, where she graduated in 1959 with a degree in Radiology. Ellie settled in Des Moines where she worked for Iowa Orthopedics as an X-ray tech and later as a coder. On May 5, 1984, Ellie was united in marriage to Richard "Dick" Russell in Pocahontas. The couple settled in Des Moines where Ellie continued working for Iowa Orthopedics until retiring in the early 2000's.

Ellie was an avid Iowa Hawkeye fan and she enjoyed playing cards and the slot machines at the casino.

Survivors include her husband, Richard "Dick" Russell of Des Moines; step-children, Janelle Russell of Waukee, JoEllen Russell of Waukee, Joy (Michael) Hartman of Prairie City and Jill (Virgo) Saard of Woodbury, MN; grandchildren, Ashley Gleason, Chandler Russell, Alexa Russell, Logan Russell, Noah Hartman, Aleah Hartman, London Russell and Hugo Saard; great-grandchildren, Vaughn Spooner and Conrad Gleason and many nieces & nephews.

Ellie was preceded in death by her parents, Lloyd and Leone Eckerson; step-son, Jeffrey Russell; sister, Jane Levene and brothers, Bob, Ed and Jerry Eckerson.