EFTHIMIOS (TIM) GRIBAS obituary

Efthimios “Tim” Gribas, 73, of Havre died Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2006, after a battle with leukemia at the Peace Hospice of Montana Center in Great Falls, surrounded by family.

A prayer vigil service will be held at 7 p.m. Sunday at the Holland & Bonine Funeral Chapel. Viewing will be held 2 to 4:30 p.m. Friday and from 1 to 4 p. m. Saturday at the Holland & Bonine Funeral Home. Tim's funeral Mass will be held at 11 a. m. Monday at St. Jude Catholic Church with Father Robert D. Grosch officiating. Burial will follow at the Calvary Cemetery. A fellowship luncheon will be held immediately after the graveside services at the St. Jude Parish Center. Tim was a longtime member of the Havre community. He was born Nov. 3, 1932, and raised in a largely Greek community in Nashua, N.H. by his parents, George and Efthimia. His enlistment in the Air Force landed him in Montana, where he was stationed at the radar base north of Havre. During that time, he met and married Carol Mayer, and they had five children together. Carol died due to cancer in 1979. Some time later, Tim met Ali Thares who became his dear wife, friend, and partner until his recent death. Tim took great pride in his commitment to family and friends, as well as in his craftsmanship and skill as a carpenter. Early in his career, he worked for a number of local contractors, though he spent most of his life self-employed, keeping busy due to his good name and dedication to excellence. Most recently, Tim was employed as a carpenter at MSU-Northern, choosing to maintain his commitment to productive work rather than coasting into an idle retirement. For leisure, Tim hunted birds and big game in north-central Montana for many years and maintained his passion for fishing throughout his lifetime. He was well known in the Havre community for his quality work, his candid and outspoken opinions, and his delightfully outrageous storytelling.

Tim was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Adam; and first wife, Carol. Survivors include his loving wife, Ali Gribas of Havre; sister, Catina Spheekas of Haverhill, Mass.; children, Tim Gribas (Rob Laufer) of Louisville, Ky., Bob (Angela) Gribas of Seattle, Wash., John (Lana) Gribas of Pocatello, Idaho, Catina (Terry) Tharp of Pocatello, Idaho, Emilie (Andy) Johnson of Moorhead, Minn., Raelene (Kumar) Navulur of Longmont, Colo., and Joe Thares of Anaheim, Calif.; nine grandchildren; and nieces and nephews. Memorials in Tim's honor may be made to the Gift Of Life Housing, P.O. Box 7008, Great Falls, MT 59405 or to a memorial of one's choice. Services and arrangements have been entrusted to Holland & Bonine Funeral Home.