Marilyn Nault lived a private life but became closely connected with one of basketball’s greatest names. She was an American jewellery salesperson who later became the third wife of NBA legend Bill Russell.
She became widely known because of her marriage to Russell. Their relationship grew from friendship into romance, and they remained married for 13 years until Marilyn’s death from cancer in 2009.
Beyond her famous marriage, Marilyn had her own family story and working life. This biography explores her childhood, parents, career, relationship with Bill Russell, stepchildren, marriage, final years, and lasting memory.
Who Was Marilyn Nault?
Marilyn Ruth Nault Russell was an American woman born on January 15, 1960, in Concordia, Cloud County, Kansas. She grew up in a Catholic household as the only daughter in her family.
She worked as a jewellery salesperson after completing high school. Her career eventually took her to Seattle, where she met Bill Russell. She later worked for Russell as his secretary and helped with accounting tasks.
Marilyn became Russell’s third wife when they married in 1996. She largely avoided public attention throughout their marriage. Their life together continued until January 21, 2009, when Marilyn died at age 59.
Marilyn Nault’s Early Life
Marilyn was born and raised in Concordia, Kansas. Her parents were Quentin and Helen Nault. She grew up alongside four brothers named James, Kyle, Eric, and Phil, making her the only daughter.
Religion played an important part in Marilyn’s childhood. Her parents followed the Catholic faith and raised their children in a religious environment. Marilyn also attended a Catholic high school while growing up in Kansas.
Her father was involved in the jewellery business and owned a jewellery store in Kansas. This family connection later influenced Marilyn’s own working life. Quentin Nault died in 1987, many years before Marilyn’s own death.
Marilyn Nault’s Parents and Siblings
Marilyn was the daughter of Quentin G. Nault and Helen Nault. She shared her childhood with her four brothers. Growing up with James, Kyle, Eric, and Phil gave her a large immediate family.
Her father’s jewellery business was especially important to her later career. Rather than taking a completely different professional direction, Marilyn eventually followed a similar path by entering jewellery sales herself.
The family also experienced losses over the years. Marilyn lost her father in 1987. Marilyn herself died in 2009, while one of her brothers later passed away in 2020, more than a decade after her death.
Marilyn Nault’s Education
Marilyn attended a Catholic high school in Kansas. Her schooling reflected the religious background of her family, as her parents raised their children according to the Catholic faith and its traditions.
After finishing high school, Marilyn did not continue to college. Instead, she decided to enter the workforce. This decision eventually led her away from Kansas as she searched for employment and new opportunities.
She later relocated to Seattle, Washington. The move became an important turning point in her life because Seattle was where her professional journey developed and where she eventually crossed paths with Bill Russell.
Marilyn Nault’s Career
After moving to Seattle, Marilyn found employment as a jewellery salesperson. The occupation had a strong family connection because her father had also worked in jewellery and owned his own jewellery store in Kansas.
Her jewellery job ultimately changed more than her professional life. Bill Russell entered the jewellery store where Marilyn worked, creating the first connection between the future husband and wife. Their relationship, however, did not immediately become romantic.
Marilyn later worked for Russell as his secretary. She assisted him with different responsibilities, including accounting-related tasks. After their relationship developed and they eventually married, Marilyn left her job and focused on life at home.
How Marilyn Nault Met Bill Russell
Marilyn first met Bill Russell while working at a jewellery store in Seattle. Russell was already famous because of his extraordinary basketball career, but their initial meeting did not immediately lead to a romantic relationship.
Instead, Marilyn and Russell developed a friendship that continued for several years. Their bond became stronger after Russell’s second marriage ended. Marilyn was already helping him with different personal and professional responsibilities during this period.
Marilyn was also skilled at playing dominoes, something that impressed Russell. As they spent increasing amounts of time together, their long friendship gradually developed into romance and eventually led them toward marriage.
Marilyn Nault and Bill Russell’s Marriage
Marilyn and Bill Russell married in 1996. She became Russell’s third wife, following his earlier marriages to Rose Swisher and Dorothy Anstett. Marilyn and Russell had already known each other for years before becoming husband and wife.
Despite Russell’s fame, the couple generally lived away from constant media attention. Marilyn sometimes joined her husband at basketball games, dinners, and other public occasions, but she did not build a public career around his celebrity status.
They also travelled extensively together. Their marriage lasted approximately 13 years and ended only because of Marilyn’s death in January 2009. Their long relationship remained an important part of Russell’s personal life.
Life With an NBA Legend
Being married to Bill Russell connected Marilyn with one of the most important figures in basketball history. Russell had built an extraordinary reputation through his years with the Boston Celtics and remained a celebrated sports figure after retirement.
Marilyn, however, preferred a much quieter lifestyle. Instead of actively pursuing public recognition, she largely remained beside Russell while maintaining her privacy. She accompanied him to selected events without making celebrity life her own career.
Their relationship also included simple personal traditions. Russell’s daughter Karen described them as an especially close couple. One part of their relationship involved Russell making sure that Marilyn had a reason to laugh at least once every day.
Did Marilyn Nault Have Children?
Marilyn and Bill Russell did not have biological children together. Marilyn also did not have children before her relationship with Russell. However, marriage made her a stepmother to the three children Russell already had.
Those children were Karen Kenyatta Russell, William Russell Jr., and Jacob Russell. All three came from Bill Russell’s first marriage to his college sweetheart, Rose Swisher.
Marilyn therefore became part of an established family when she married Russell. Although she and Russell never expanded the family with children of their own, she remained his wife for more than a decade and stepmother to his three children.
Bill Russell’s Marriages Before Marilyn Nault
Before marrying Marilyn, Bill Russell had already experienced two marriages. His first wife was Rose Swisher, whom he had known during his college years. Russell and Swisher married in 1956 and had three children together.
Their marriage eventually changed as the couple grew apart. They divorced in 1973 after approximately 17 years of marriage. Several years later, Russell began another chapter of his personal life by marrying former model Dorothy Anstett.
Russell and Anstett married in 1977, but their marriage lasted only a few years. They divorced in 1980. Marilyn eventually became Russell’s third wife in 1996, many years after his second marriage had ended.
Marilyn Nault’s Life Away From Public Attention
Marilyn had a close connection to an internationally recognized sports figure, yet she never appeared interested in becoming a celebrity herself. Much of her married life remained outside the regular glare of entertainment and sports media.
She occasionally appeared alongside Russell at sporting events and dinners. These appearances reflected her supportive place beside her husband, while her everyday activities largely remained separate from the attention surrounding his legendary basketball career.
Her lifestyle explains why Marilyn is primarily remembered through her marriage and family connections rather than through public interviews or entertainment projects. Her working background was in jewellery sales and later in assisting Russell with his affairs.
Marilyn Nault’s Net Worth and Earnings
Marilyn earned money through her career as a jewellery salesperson before marrying Bill Russell. She also worked as Russell’s secretary and assisted him with accounting and other responsibilities before their romantic relationship developed.
After marrying Russell, Marilyn stopped working and became a housewife. Her life consequently became more closely connected with her husband and their household rather than with an independent public career or business venture.
Bill Russell had accumulated substantial wealth during and after his historic basketball career. His wealth was estimated at around $10 million at the time of his death, while Marilyn’s own individual financial worth was not separately established.
Marilyn Nault’s Cause of Death
Marilyn Nault died on January 21, 2009. She had turned 59 only six days earlier, having been born on January 15, 1960. Her death brought her 13-year marriage with Bill Russell to an end.
Marilyn had been battling cancer before her death. Her illness had remained private, which meant that the circumstances surrounding her health were not widely discussed while she was still alive.
Following her death, Marilyn’s family held a private funeral ceremony in Seattle. She was later laid to rest at Lake View Cemetery in Seattle, Washington, the city that had become an important part of her adult life.
Bill Russell’s Life After Marilyn Nault’s Death
Marilyn’s death marked the end of an important chapter in Russell’s personal life. He continued his life as one of basketball’s most celebrated former players while maintaining the remarkable legacy he had established with the Boston Celtics.
Years later, Russell married again. His fourth wife was Jeanine Russell, whom he married around 2018. She remained married to him during the final years of his life.
Bill Russell died on July 31, 2022. His death once again brought widespread attention to his basketball achievements and personal history, including his four marriages to Rose Swisher, Dorothy Anstett, Marilyn Nault, and Jeanine Russell.
Marilyn Nault’s Connection to Bill Russell’s Legacy
Bill Russell’s achievements made him a major figure in American sports history. Marilyn entered his life after his playing career had ended, so their relationship belonged mainly to a later period of his personal journey.
Their connection began in an ordinary setting rather than through basketball. Marilyn was working in jewellery sales when she met Russell. Their friendship developed gradually before eventually becoming a committed romantic partnership and marriage.
For Marilyn, life beside Russell combined private family moments with occasional appearances in his public world. She remained with him from their marriage in 1996 until she died in 2009, giving their relationship a lasting place in his life story.
Final Thoughts
Marilyn Nault is remembered primarily as the third wife of basketball legend Bill Russell, but her story began long before their marriage. She grew up in Kansas and came from a close Catholic family.
She followed her father into the jewellery industry before moving to Seattle. Her work eventually brought her into contact with Russell. Friendship came first, followed by a relationship that developed slowly over several years.
Marilyn and Russell married in 1996 and stayed together until her death from cancer in 2009. Although she lived quietly, her 13-year marriage, career background, family life, and relationship with Russell remain important parts of her story.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Marilyn Nault?
Marilyn Nault was an American jewellery salesperson best known as the third wife of legendary NBA player Bill Russell. She was born in Kansas in 1960 and married Russell in 1996.
How did Marilyn Nault meet Bill Russell?
Marilyn met Bill Russell while working as a jewellery salesperson in Seattle. They initially became friends rather than romantic partners. Their relationship grew closer over several years before they eventually married.
Did Marilyn Nault and Bill Russell have children?
No, Marilyn and Bill Russell did not have children together. Marilyn became stepmother to Russell’s three children, Karen Kenyatta Russell, William Russell Jr., and Jacob Russell, from his first marriage.
How long were Marilyn Nault and Bill Russell married?
Marilyn Nault and Bill Russell married in 1996. Their marriage lasted until Marilyn died in January 2009, meaning they spent approximately 13 years together as husband and wife.
What was Marilyn Nault’s cause of death?
Marilyn Nault died from cancer on January 21, 2009, at the age of 59. A private funeral was held in Seattle, and she was buried at Lake View Cemetery in Seattle, Washington.
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