Harold Best Lockhart

Harold Best Lockhart of Whitefish and Oro Valley, Ariz. died March 15. He was 84 years old.

Harold was born to the late Viola and Harold Best Lockhart, Sr. on Oct. 24, 1929 in Great Falls when it was still a frontier town with a small population. As a boy, Harold spent summers on the Gowdy Horse Ranch in central Montana and worked on the M.V. Caribou in Vancouver, B.C. All this led to a lifelong appreciation for open space and outdoor activities. He especially enjoyed fly-fishing, skiing, and hunting.

He graduated from Great Falls High School. After serving in the U.S. Army, he later earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Montana State University. Following college, he began work for the Anaconda Company of Great Falls, becoming part of management early in his career.

He married Marie De Laitsch in 1956 and they moved to Smelter Hill where they began raising their three sons, Andy, Doug and Pete — two scalliwags and a prodigy.

In 1967, the family moved to Whitefish where Harold became heavily involved in the management of the rod mill at Anaconda Aluminum plant at Columbia Falls. He later moved into general management. He relished his interactions with plant colleagues and shared numerous stories and anecdotes about the workplace that he’d begun to write up in recent years.

Harold and Marie’s life together included countless family outings, backpacking in the Bob Marshall, foreign travel to places like England, New Zealand and Turkey, and numerous dinner parties with close friends. Fishing expeditions were his favorite and included journeys to Belize, Alaska, Christmas Island and the Bahamas. However, despite heroic efforts, advanced tackle and techniques, he never attained the productive capacity of his wife. Explanations rationalizing this discrepancy continue to this day.

Mostly, Harold and his family fished, skied and camped in the mountains near Whitefish. One time, Harold and Marie were treed by a grizzly. Marie encouraged Harold to “shoot the damn bear, Harold”, to which he replied, “I can’t shoot the damn bear, Marie, it’s not bear season.” The bear wandered off, vindicating Harold’s decision.

Harold retired in the mid-90s and devoted himself to his beloved outdoor activities as well as painting and writing. Harold was a voracious reader, especially well-versed in world history. This informed his own writing about life in Montana. In retirement, he also served on the board of the Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

Harold and Marie began spending winters in Arizona in 2004 where they indulged their love of the outdoors in a different setting.

Above all, Harold is remembered by his family and friends as a man of honesty and integrity.

Harold is survived by wife Marie, sons, Andy of Vancouver, Wash., Doug of San Diego and Pete of Hillsboro, Ore.; daughters-in-law, Carol Lockhart of San Diego and Beth Harrington of Vancouver; and grandchildren, Catey and Nick Lockhart of Bozeman.

Arrangements for a memorial service are being made at present. Burial will take place in Kalispell and will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please pick up a rod and go fishing or read a book.