KENNETH SCHARFE obituary

BILLINGS - Kenneth Charles Scharfe, 82, of Billings, formerly of Havre, died peacefully on Friday, May 9, 2003, after a long battle with cancer.

A funeral service will be held Tuesday at 1 p.m. at the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, 1108 West 24th St., in Billings with the Rev. Carol Marhol officiating. A committal

service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at the Highland Cemetery in Havre with the Rev. Brad Ulgeness officiating.

Kenneth was born in Laredo on June 13, 1920, to Otto and Bessie Scharfe. They moved to Alexandra, Minn., for a few years before moving to Havre when he was in the fourth grade. Ken graduated from Havre High School, where he excelled in many sports and enjoyed playing the trombone in the band. He attended the University of Montana for a short time before working at Montana National Bank in Havre.

On Dec. 5, 1941, he married his high school sweetheart, Mildred McNeil. Soon after he enlisted in the Army Air Corps and served in World War II until January of 1946. He then began working for Ryan Havre Wholesale Foods and transferred to Ryan Wholesale in Billings (later Super Value) in 1973 as a nonfoods buyer and continued working there until retiring in 1984.

Ken's greatest loves were his wife and family. He was very proud of his grandchildren. Ken enjoyed his volunteer work at Deaconess Billings Clinic and was a big fan of the West High Bears. He and Milly seldom missed a basketball game, both boys and girls. Ken was a member of the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd and received much comfort from its weekly Bible study.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Alvin; and daughter in-law, Carlene Scharfe.

Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Milly; sons, Richard of Havre and Larry (Marie) of Billings; sister, Evelyn Spangelo of Havre; grandchildren, Dr. Stace Scharfe of Fort Collins, Colo .; Carrie (Jim) Kato of Havre, and Michael, Kevin and Katie Scharfe of Billings; and two great-grandchildren.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to the staff of Big Sky Hospice; Beth Whitworth, hospice nurse; staff at Deaconess Billings Clinic; and Drs. Ron Smith, Brock Whittenberger, and Derek Weiss.

Memorials may be made to Big Sky Hospice, Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd or a charity of one's choice.

Graveside services are under the direction of Holland and Bonine Funeral Home in Havre.