Edwin Tienhaara

Edwin Tienhaara passed on to his eternal home on Dec. 30, 2014. Edwin was born Feb. 16, 1922 in Phelps, Wisc., to Gust and Sannah Tienhaara. Edwin was the second youngest of 10 siblings.

Edwin served in the Army during World War II and after being discharged, he moved west. He held many different jobs as he worked his way across the Dakotas, Wyoming and Montana as a surveyor, farm hand and finally as a Forest Service worker in Libby.

Edwin came to Whitefish from Libby in 1985. He was a resident of the Mountain View Manor from 1995 to 2009. He was a good neighbor and well liked by all the other residents. The Winter Carnival royalty crowned him King of Mountain View Manor in 2008.

While living there he was able to walk to town and made his daily rounds stopping at Swift Creek Café for breakfast, Glacier Bank, Markus Foods, Nelson’s Hardware, Glacier Cyclery and then down the hill to the Golden Agers for lunch.

Edwin lived a simple life and was full of down-to-earth adages. This practical homespun wisdom guided him throughout his life. He didn’t worry about a thing and he rarely made any plans for tomorrow because, as he would say, “We haven’t finished living this day yet.”

Edwin spent the last five years of his life residing in Columbia Falls at the Montana Veteran’s Home where he was again crowned King, this time of the Veteran’s Home, by the Whitefish Winter Carnival Royalty in 2012. Edwin loved his time at the Veteran’s Home and so much appreciated the care he received from everyone there, especially Tonya Martin and Dreama Graham. He was loved by the staff and other residents for his kind, uncomplaining and sweet nature.

His smile and sense of humor will be missed by all.

Edwin, a life-long bachelor, was preceded in death by all his immediate family, his good friend Vi Starks, and is survived by a host of friends and many nieces and nephews.

At Edwin’s request, his ashes will be buried at his family’s plot in Phelps, Wisc., next to his parents, brothers and sisters.