Russell Gordon Peine, age 87, passed away peacefully in the early hours on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. He was born on March 30,1939 in Durango, Colorado to Marion Milton and Mildred Dean Peine. He married Connie Adams on June 12, 1965, in the Oakland, California LDS Temple.
He was raised in Red Mesa, Colorado where he had many fond memories of running the tractors on the family’s dry farm to grow pinto beans.
After graduating from Durango High School, Russell attended two years at Fort Lewis A&M where he furthered his love of cars and driving.
He was then called to serve an LDS mission in Mexico City. He learned Spanish with ease and during the last year of his mission, he served as secretary and chauffeur to the mission president which he loved as he got to drive around Mexico.
Following his mission, Russell attended BYU in Provo, Utah where he graduated with a BA in Spanish, a minor in history and a teaching certificate to teach secondary education.
As he and Connie’s own family grew, so did his dislike of being indoors all day as a teacher. He was hired as a heavy equipment operator in Green River, Wyoming and he was great at it. After a few years in Wyoming, Russell learned of a job opportunity to help work on the Virgin River Gorge. He came down to check it out and was hired on the spot.
The family moved to Southern Utah and have been here ever since. Living in Washington, UT for a few years before buying a home in Leeds, UT where they settled and have been for the last 54 years.

Russell worked with heavy equipment for the rest of his career. Some of his early jobs were farther south in Arizona so he became a private pilot and bought an airplane so he could fly across the grand canyon rather than have to drive all the way around. Flying airplanes was added to his love of driving anything and everything.

He worked with Larkin Plumbing before starting his own company R.G. Peine and Sons which he ran for 10 years and then finished his career at the gypsum mine just over the border into Arizona where he continued until his retirement at age 78 in 2017.
He was one of the hardest workers with an amazing work ethic.

Russell was an active, faithful member of the LDS Church where he served in various callings; home teacher, Elder’s quorum president, teacher of several classes, High councilman, and as a temple worker in the St. George LDS temple where he worked in the baptistry. He was also called as Bishop where he loved his time serving the people of the Leeds Ward.

He served in his community as a town councilman and also was on the water board for many years. His service to the community was greatly appreciated.

He loved and was supportive of his wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. His family loved hearing all of his stories and adventures from his mission as well as his growing up years.

Russell is survived by his wife Connie Adams Peine, 7 of his 8 children: Paul (Randolyn) Peine, Steven (Julie) Peine, Phillip (Laurel) Peine, Sandy (Zach) Truman, Jenny (Jared) Westhoff, Michael Peine, Joseph (Amy) Peine, as well as his brothers: Craig Peine and Kirk (Sharon) Peine.
He was preceded in death by his daughter Rebecca Sue Peine, his parents; and siblings: Dean (Marlean), Robert (Melanie), Carol (Dana) Dean.

Funeral services will be Saturday April 25, at 1:00pm, at the LDS Chapel, 75 N Main St , Leeds, Utah

Visitations will be held on Friday April 24, from 7-9pm at McArthur funeral home, 160 w. 700 s., St. George, Utah and on Saturday, from 11:30-12:30 prior to the services at the chapel.

Interment will be held at the Leeds Cemetery.