GARY ASHMORE obituary

STEVENSVILLE - Gary Wayne Ashmore, 57, of Stevensville died Friday, Feb. 10, 2006, in a car accident while on a fishing trip at Lake Roosevelt, Wash.

Friends are invited to toast Gary with his own special blend on Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m. at St. Mary's Family Center, 400 Mission Street, Stevensville.

Gary was born on June 15, 1948 to Leslie “Bud” and Vera Ashmore in Ulen, Minn. His early years were spent on the family farm, milking cows. One of his favorite stories was when he was left in charge of the farm chores while his mom and dad took a trip to Montana.

The family moved to Rudyard in 1961. Gary car-hopped at the family A&W Root Beer stand until conning his sister Cheryl into taking over and he went to work at several area farms and made the “big bucks.” After graduating from Rudyard High School in 1966, he enlisted in the U.S. Army. Honorably discharged, he went to work at the stockyards, put himself through school and graduated from the University of Montana with two bachelor degrees.

In 1982, he married Rhea Cronine; they were later divorced.

After eight years of courtship, he married Lindsey (Bendewald) Moretti on April 30, 1998. The couple lived in Stevensville, where Gary retired as postmaster of the Stevensville post office in 2003.

Gary enjoyed his retirement to the fullest, catching the big steelhead or anything else that swam; chasing roosters with his canine companion Tac; spending many Thanksgiving holidays in elk camp; and squeezing in golf and home projects in his spare time. Gary was an avid University of Montana Grizzly fan.

Gary was preceded in death by his father in 2000, and a niece in 1975.

Survivors include his wife, Lindsey, at the family home in Stevensville; mother, Vera Ashmore of Havre; sisters, Judy (Bob) Enke of Helena, Cheryl (Ervin) Hamblock of Havre, Kathy (Rich) Fabiano of Helena and Vicki (Jeff) Han of Inverness; 13 nieces and nephews; five grandnieces and grandnephews; stepdaughters, Jessica (JK) of Apache Juncion, Ariz., and Danielle (Chris) of Phoenix; special granddaughter, Marley Chayse; mother and father-in-law, Sally and Alan Bendewald; sister-in-law, Laurie (Dave) Sonju; and brother-in-law, Michael Bendewald.

The family suggests memorials to the Whitetail Golf Club, P.O. Box 2, Stevensville, MT 59870

The Whitesitt Funeral Home in Stevensville is in charge of arrangements.