WALTER KUENZEL obituary

CLARKSTON, Wash. - Walter H. Kuenzel, 87, of Clarkston, Idaho, formerly of Havre, died Friday, April 1, 2005, at his home in Clarkston.

A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Valley Christian Center, 3215 Echo Hills Dr., Lewiston, Idaho, with the Rev. Jesse Wilkinson officiating.

Walter was born Aug. 7, 1917, in Todd County, Minn., to Henry and Laura Kuenzel.

Walter married Vera Johnson in 1936. They later divorced. He married Pat Carlson Dec. 25, 1979, in Cut Bank.

Walter worked for Great Northern, Burlington Northern and Amtrak railways in Havre for 40 years, retiring in 1979. He ran for state representative in Montana about 1970. He belonged to the Eagles, Masons, Shriners, AARP, Blue Angel and the CCC. He liked to travel. He and his wife were snowbirds for 14 years before settling in Clarkston in 2000. They lived in Havre, Orlando, Fla., Spokane, Wash., and Hemet, Calif.

Survivors include his wife, Pat at the family home; daughter, Darla (Dennis) Kuntz of Havre; son, Byron (Shirley) Kuenzel of Grand Forks, N.D.; stepdaughters, Sherry (John) Stevenson of Roundup and Karyn Carlson of Billings; stepson, Chuck Carlson of Great Falls; 10 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; sisters, Margurite Protz of Tomah, Wis., and Verna Oatman of Orlando, Fla.; and brothers, Kenny Kuenzel of Havre and Bernard Kuenzel of Hemet.

He was preceded in death by a sister, two sons and his parents.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Tri-State Hospice, 1100 Highland Ave., Clarkston, WA 99403.