WILBUR CAVITT obituary

BIG SANDY - Wilbur "Bill" Marion Cavitt Jr., 76, of Big Sandy died Monday, Dec. 22, 2003, at a Big Sandy medical center of natural causes.

A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the United Methodist Church in Big Sandy with the Rev. Marvin Eldridge officiating. Visitation will be held one hour

before the service. Burial will be in the Big Sandy Cemetery with Masonic rites.

Bill was born on Aug. 29, 1927, at Great Falls to Wilbur and Vivian (Edmister) Cavitt. He attended the Grandview School north of Galata.

Bill and Rosemary Cole were married in 1947 at Chester. They had a daughter. The family farmed and ranched north of Galata. They later moved to the Big Sandy where they bought a farm. Their marriage ended in divorce.

Bill and Darlene Kessler were married on Oct. 17, 1965, at Rohrer Methodist Church in Big Sandy. They had a son and daughter.

Bill was a lifetime farmer and rancher. In 1987, Bill and Darlene purchased the Farmers Union building, where they opened the Farm and Ranch Supply store in Big Sandy.

Bill enjoyed restoring old vehicles and old machinery. He liked to teach the younger generation and was always willing to help anyone in need.

Bill always commented on what wonderful communities Big Sandy and Galata were. He never forgot the help he received when his house burned after moving to the Big Sandy area and all the people he'd never met who came to help.

Bill was a 50-year Mason, member of the Bear Paw Chapter No. 100 Order of the Eastern Star and a Shriner.

Bill is survived by his wife, Darlene Cavitt of Big Sandy; daughters, Kathleen "Kathi" Reinertson of Escondido, Calif., and Patti Gasvoda of Big Sandy; son, John Cavitt of San Diego, Calif.; sisters, Betty Bjornrude of Kalispell, Mildred Hajek-Dobeas of Great Falls and Lucille Russell of Ledger; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be sent to the Big Sandy Medical Center or a donor's choice.

Arrangements under the direction of Benton Funeral Home.