Russell Dale Abernathy, age 77, of Mont Ida, Kansas, passed away on Sunday, December 18, 2011, in Mont Ida, Kansas. He was born March 21, 1934, the youngest of triplets born to Russell Roland Abernathy and Mabel (Vanatta) Abernathy. He grew up at Mont Ida and graduated from Welda High School in 1953. He was employed by the Union Pacific Railroad for 37 years until his retirement in June 1994. Dale was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Garnett and had been attending the Church of the Brethren in Mont Ida. He was a member of the American Legion Post #48 of Garnett since 1951, and was a lifetime member of the Anderson County Historical Society. He was preceded in death by his parents, Russell and Mabel Abernathy; sister, Helen Lavon Wyatt; and brother-in-law, Virgil Wyatt. Dale is survived by his brother, Charles Don Abernathy of El Dorado, Kansas; niece, Barbara Keil of Topeka, Kansas; nephew, Steven Wyatt of Americus, Kansas. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., on Thursday, December 22, 2011, at the Feuerborn Family Funeral Service Chapel in Garnett, with burial following in the Mont Ida Cemetery, Mont Ida, Kansas. The family will be present to greet friends at 1:00 p.m. prior to the service on Thursday at the funeral home for visitation. Memorial contributions may be made to the Mont Ida Church of the Brethren.