RICHARD WINTER obituary

Richard Edward Winter, 87, of Havre died Sunday, Feb. 25, 2007, at Northern Montana Hospital of natural causes.

His funeral service will be 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Holland & Bonine Funeral Chapel with Father Robert D. Grosch officiating. A private family burial will be held. Richard was born May 3, 1919, in Cannon Ball, N.D., to Fredrick and Pauline (Schultz) Winter. He was raised and educated in Graceville, Minn. He moved with his parents to Montana when he was a teenager and they settled in Harlem. Richard worked in the coal mines, the beet factory and in the Bear Paw Mountains for local ranchers. He then went to work for a trucking company. Richard married Mary M. Jaeger on Feb. 25, 1940, in Great Falls. Richard then moved to Denver, where he attended Opportunity School and concentrated his studies in welding. After completing the school, Richard went to work for the pipeline as a welder and worked the line from Tennessee to Ohio. He then entered into the United States Navy in 1944 and served in World War II on the USS Baltimore. He was honorably discharged as a machinist mate 3c (T) in 1946. After the service, Richard returned to Montana and settled in Havre, where he went to work for the Montana Highway Department. He worked as the district mechanic and retired from the highway department in 1974 after 30 years. Richard was an avid hunter and fisherman. He enjoyed gardening and grew a large variety of vegetables each year. He was a member of the Eagles and the V. F.W. Richard was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Mary Winter in 1984; and brother, Carl Winter. Survivors include his daughters, Mary Lou Delaire of Havre and Shirley (Chuck) Dow of Post Falls, Idaho; granddaughter, Melanie (Dan) Berna of Spokane, Wash.; grandson, Jeff (Sherry Lyne) Dow of Spokane; two great-granddaughters; sister, Ruth Hutton of Twin Falls, Idaho; and several nieces and nephews. Memorial contributions in Richard's honor may be made to the Havre-Hill County Library for large print Western books or to a memorial of one's choice. Services and arrangements have been entrusted to Holland & Bonine Funeral Home.