THADDEUS “TED” BABIAK obituary

THADDEUS “TED” BABIAK obituary

Thaddeus A. “Ted” Babiak, 92, died Saturday, Jan. 14, 2006, at the Marcus Daly Hospice Center in Hamilton.

A vigil service will be held Wednesday, at 7 p.m. at the Dowling Funeral Home chapel. Mass will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. at St. Francis Catholic Church in Hamilton. The Rev. John Darragh will be the celebrant.

Military honors will be provided by American Legion Post No. 47 and Marine Corps League Bitterroot Valley Detachment No. 937 following the service. A reception will follow at the St. Francis Parish Center. Burial will take place in Havre at a later date.

Ted was born to Antone and Rosa (Mostek) Babiak on Dec. 25, 1913, in St. Paul, Minn.

Ted, his parents and his sister, Evelyn, moved to Havre in 1917 from St. Paul. He graduated from Havre High School. After attending Dunwoody Institute in Minneapolis for electrical training, he returned to Havre and was employed by the Montana Power Co., for which he worked in numerous capacities for 44 years.

In 1942, Ted was among the first volunteers in the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne Division. He made combat jumps in Sicily, Italy and on D-Day in Normandy. He was awarded the bronze star while serving his country.

After he returned from World War II, he married his high school sweetheart, Georgiana Hayes, on April 22, 1946. He was a manager for the Montana Power Co. in Chinook before taking that post in Hamilton in 1957.

Ted was athletically active throughout his life. He played on the Seals state championship softball team and was an excellent bowler. He scored his perfect 300 game on Dec. 8, 1951. He played volleyball until age 70 and was a member of the Hamilton Golf Club and played golf into his 90s.

Ted was a member of the Lions Club and served as their president in 1961-62. He was a member of American Legion Post No. 47 in Hamilton. Ted was also a member of the Montana 82nd Army Airborne Division. Ted and Georgiana were square dancers and Ted was a caller for many years. He continued to enjoy bridge until the time of his death. After Georgiana's death he began faceting gemstones, adding sparkle to many ladies in the Bitterroot Valley and beyond. Ted had many friends who will miss his kind, gentle, caring and generous ways.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Georgiana Hayes Babiak; sister, Evelyn Babiak Thomas; and a nephew, Kinnison Thomas.

Ted is survived by his niece, Dr. Kay Thomas Green of Roseville, Minn .; and special friends, Mark Annin, Melanie Shaffer, Kay Helppie, Tim and Claresa Bozik, and Jerry Keeley, all of Hamilton.

Memorials may be sent to the SAFE association, 150 Morning Star Way, Hamilton, MT 59840, to St. Francis Catholic Church, P.O. Box 593, Hamilton, MT 59840 and to Havre High School.

Services were arranged by Ronald Brothers with Dowling Funeral Home and Crematory in Hamilton. Condolences may be sent by e-mail to friends and family at [email protected].