ORVILLE SATHER obituary

Orville Ordine "Tubby" Sather, 81, died on Monday, Nov. 8, 2004, at Kalispell.

A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at the First Lutheran Church in Havre. Burial with military rites will follow at the Highland Cemetery in Havre.

Orville was born on

Sept. 18, 1923, at Havre to Ove and Oline (Borde) Sather. Orville grew up in the Havre community and received his formal education there. He graduated from Havre High School in 1941.

In 1943 he was inducted into the U. S. Army. He served in Company "C" of the 314th Engineer Combat Battalion during World War II and attained the rank of corporal. Orville saw active duty at Normandy, Rhineland and Northern France before demobilization. Following his honorable discharge in 1945, he returned to Montana.

Orville began working as a bookkeeper for Sanvik Brothers in Rudyard. He met his wife-to-be, Lavon Wilson, and they were married in Havre on March 14, 1948. They lived in Rudyard for 15 years, where Orville continued to work for Sanvik's and as a clerk for the Rudyard Public School system. In 1963, he accepted a position as business manager and clerk for Havre Public Schools, a job he held until his retirement in 1984.

The Sathers moved to Whitefish in 1986 to enjoy their retirement years. In addition, they traveled to St. George, Utah, during the winter months of 1990-2004. Orville was diagnosed with cancer about a year ago and his health had slowly declined since that time. Two months ago, the Sathers moved to the Greenwood Village, an assisted living facility in Kalispell, where Orville had been cared for by his family, hospice nurses and staff at the Village.

Orville was raised and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. Over the years, he attended church at First Lutheran in Havre, Christ Lutheran in Whitefish and Trinity Lutheran in St. George. He was a member of the Lions, Elks and V.F.W. in Havre.

Orville was a meticulous bookkeeper and enjoyed serving as the clerk of the Havre school board during his tenure there. He was always a proud American who considered his military service as a duty and an honor. He also enjoyed American politics and remained a loyal Republican throughout his life.

His hobbies included golfing, bowling and tennis. During his quiet time at home, he loved working in his garden and yard, which were always immaculate.

Orville was preceded in death by his parents; son, Gaylord Sather in 1974; son-in-law, Rich Fisher in 1986; and brothers, Arnold Sather in 1998 and Mel Sather in 2004.

Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Lavon Sather of Kalispell; sons, Vance (Anita) Sather of Fairfield, Calif., and Grant (Carol) Sather of Bremerton, Wash .; daughters, Sharman Sather of Denver, Colo., and Jill (Don) Leo of Havre; six grandchildren; brother, Jim (Aileen) Sather of Havre; sister, Helen (Emil) Klies of Anacortes, Wash .; and several nephews and nieces.

Memorials can be given to any hospice organization or donor's choice.

Arrangements by Rockman Funeral Chapel of Chester.