Russell Scott Plagge

Russell Scott Plagge, age 73, died May 30th, 2025, following a long illness.

Born April 10th, 1952, in LaJunta, Colorado, he was the second son of the late Walter E. and Charlotte Plagge.

Russell graduated from Pritchett High School and attended Lamar Junior College for a short time.

Russell has been employed as a farmer/rancher his entire life.  He supplemented his way of life by working off and on the Baca County RE-3 District. He did move away from Baca County for a few years, 1984 - 1987 to manage ranches in the La Veta, Colorado area. After returning to Baca County, he purchased the balance of the original family farm and planted all the farm ground to grassland for his cattle.  After he retired from Baca County in 2015, he started his own fencing business for 5 years which he truly enjoyed working around the county on projects.

Russell has been involved in the church at Pritchett serving as a Sunday School Teacher and serving on the Board of the Church of God which later was changed to Pritchett Community Church.  He also served on the Pritchett Grazing Land Association and the Pritchett School Board.

Russell enjoyed spending time outside. His favorite activity was to be able to be on a good horse moving cattle on grazing rotation.  His dad, Walter E., once said he needed to just put wheels on his cows as much as he moved them around.  He enjoyed hunting and fishing and loved the time spent in the mountains.

Russ’s personality was best in small groups of people which he knew well and would tease them to get a smile.

Russ loved his family and raised his 3 boys on the same land he had been raised on with hopes that it will continue down to the 5th generation currently living on it.  He taught them the value of doing a good job, being dependable and keeping your word. Russell was blessed to enjoy having his 3 youngest grandchildren being raised close by so he could enjoy them grow and help with their raising just as he had been raised close to both of his grandparents. They have been a special joy to bring him many smiles the last 3 years.

Russell is preceded in death by his parents, Walter E. And Charlotte Plagge, older brother, Danny Plagge. His grandparents Walter H. & Olga Plagge and Bill & Ruby Whitman.

Russell is survived by his spouse of 53 years, Sonja Plagge, sons Cody (Sarah) Plagge, Wm Troy Plagge, Clint (Tiffany) Plagge. Grandchildren Scott Plagge, Kyle Plagge, Kylie Plagge, Hayden Plagge, Walter Plagge, Michael Hall and Shannon (Shae) Hall. He is also survived by his brother Ken (Debbe) Plagge and sister Lisa (Elmer) Lippoldt and numerous nephews and nieces and great nieces and nephews.

Memorial services will be on June 3, 2025 at 10 a.m. at the Pritchett School in Pritchett, Colorado.

Please consider making a memorial contribution in Russell Plagge’s name to the Pritchett Community Church Building Fund, c/o Casey Everett, 10754 Co Rd 3.1, Pritchett, Co. 81064 in lieu of flowers.