Russell Riutta
My name is Russ Riutta. Darryl was my 1st cousin. His mother Mildred and my father Russell Riutta were siblings. I haven’t seen any of the boys for years, but I hadn’t seen Darryl since before he joined the Marines. As kids, our family would go to their house out in Obenhoff, a few miles outside of Houghton, Michigan for sauna. As kids Darryl, his brothers, my younger brothers and I would explore in the woods surrounding their farm, which was a truly beautiful place to be in the summer and fall. I remember Darryl and his brothers had a genuine teepee their Dad helped them put up in the woods. Darryl’s father Donald was a man who could make something out of nothing, a master craftsman and blacksmith who once made leaf springs for my father’s wood hauling truck by hand! Darryl was made of the same stock, and was a true patriot who served this country honorably. As a fellow veteran I salute him, and I’ll keep his wife, children and siblings in my prayers. God’s peace be with you.