Marvel P. Lennick
Mervel Peter "Merv" Lennick, 53, a retired railroad worker and Army Reserve veteran, died of natural causes at his home in Cut Bank on April 3.
He was born Sept. 30, 1951 in Hazen, North Dakota to Arthur and Shirley (Krieger) Lennick. In 1955 he moved to Columbia Falls where he graduated from high school in 1969.
He then attended the National Electronics Institute at Englewood, Colo. for two years where he received his General Electronics Technician Certificate in 1973.
He married Verlie Mae Friesz April 16, 1977 at Dickinson, N.D. where they lived until 1982 when they moved to Cut Bank where he was a signal maintainer for the BNSF Railroad for 27 years until his retirement in 2000.
Merv served with the Army National Guard for 20 years.
His greatest joys in life were his family, reading God's word, being involved in Bible studies and fishing. He was a member of the Cut Bank Community Bible Church where he truly loved and respected Pastor Joe Litton for all the questions he answered for him. He is "safely home" and in God's hands.
Survivors include his wife of 28 years Verlie Lennick of Cut Bank; daughter, Marcia A. Lennick of Great Falls; sons, Erick J. Lennick of Great Falls and Eugene T. Lennick of Bozeman; sister, Audrey (Larry) Larson of Twin Falls, Idaho; brothers, Garfield (Mary) Lennick of Medford, Ore., and Rod (Renee) Lennick of Columbia Falls.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
His memorial service was April 9 at the Cut Bank Community Bible Church followed by burial of ashes with military honors in the Veterans section of Crown Hill Cemetery. Whitted Funeral Chapel of Cut Bank is in charge of arrangements. Condolences can be sent to the family at www.whittedfuneralchapel.com.
Freda I. Ostby
Freda I. Ostby, born Feb. 29, 1916 in Alida, Minn., slipped into the presence of her Savior, Monday, May 2, 2005, surrounded by her loved ones and in her own cozy home in Martin City.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Mabel Thayer, her husband, Bob Ostby, her sister, Vida Stone, and her son, Bruce Ostby.
She became a teacher at a young age in Minnesota, then married and began raising her family. They discovered Montana, fell in love with the mountains, and moved here in 1944. She began working for the West Glacier Merc., managing the bar, which became known, unofficially as Freda's, and still is to this day. She made many friends there. She loved all her "boys" who made up the trail crews.
At the age of 50, she went back to college and got her bachelor's degree in elementary education, due to the efforts of our special family friend, Karen Feather. She then went back to teaching, in a one room school, all eight grades in Essex where she also did the janitor work in exchange for living at the teacherage.
Freda was a member of the Canyon Community Church in Coram, the Martin City Fireman's Auxiliary, VFW Auxiliary, served on the Board of Directors for the Martin City Volunteer Fire Department, and served for many years in the Columbia Falls Christian Women's Club. She was also a whiz at cards and beat us all regularly!
She is survived by three daughters, Karen Lietz and her husband Don, Bobbie K. Beach, and Judy Johnson and her husband Jack, 13 grandchildren, and 25 great grandchildren.
Memorial Services will be conducted by Rev. Tod Fox, Saturday, May 14, 2005, at 4 p.m. at the Canyon Elementary School in Hungry Horse, followed by a potluck supper.