ARCHIE VIOLETT obituary

LOTHAIR - Archie Leroy Violett, 91, died peacefully at the Chester rest home on Friday, Sept. 10, 2004.

A funeral service will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Chester. Burial will follow at the Chester Cemetery.

Archie was born on Aug. 2, 1913, on the family homestead south of Lothair to William "Lee" and Leone (Marson) Violett. Archie received his formal education at Lothair, then began working on the family farm.

He married Ellen I. Warness on June 16, 1934, at Havre. They farmed at Lothair throughout their married life and raised three sons. In 1948, they built a home in Chester and also had a summer home at Hungry Horse for many years. Even though Archie had heart by-pass surgery in 1975, he continued to remain active in the farming operations into the 1990s. The Violetts moved to the Sweetgrass Retirement Lodge in 1998. Archie transferred to the Liberty County Nursing Home in 2001 for extended care.

Archie was a longtime member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Chester. He served on the church council and was a member of the building committee when the new church was built. He also belonged to the Chester Rotary and Shelby Elks clubs, and he had served on the Chester school board.

Archie was an avid horseman. He raised, trained and rode many horses over the years and loved to attend horse racing events and rodeos. He collected horse paraphernalia and belt buckles.

In addition, he was an avid sports enthusiast. He enjoyed TV sports, and participated in baseball, bowling, hunting, fishing, boating, waterskiing and related activities in his earlier years. Archie enjoyed playing cards, especially pan, whist and pitch with family and friends. During his quiet time at home, he enjoyed reading, particularly Westerns, and his favorite author was Louis L'amour.

Archie loved his life as a Montana farmer. He was an early riser, was never afraid of hard work and could fix almost anything on the farm.

The Violetts took many memorable trips during their 70 years together. They visited the Philipines and Japan, the Panama Canal and Puerto Rico, and many U.S. states.

Archie was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Willis Violett; sister, Jessie Lasich; half brother, Francis Violett; and foster brother, Francis Moran.

Survivors include his wife, Ellen Violett of Chester; sons, Russell (Delores) Violett of Tucson, Ariz., Gary (Bev) Violett of Lothair and Mike (Sue) Violett of Chester; nine grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; sister, Nellie Dornbos of Salem, Ore.; and numerous nephews and nieces.

Memorials will be given to Our Savior's Lutheran Church or the Hi-Line Health Foundation.

Arrangements by Rockman Funeral Chapel, Chester.