Ruddy Rayner Reilly

Ruddy Rayner Reilly

Ruddy Rayner Reilly, 79, of Cascade, a retired Montana Veterans Affairs Division service officer and retired U.S. Army veteran, died Thursday at a local hospital of lung and spine cancer. Cremation has taken place under the direction of Croxford Funeral Home. A memorial service will take place at 10 a.m. Monday at Croxford Funeral Home, with interment at a later date at the Montana State Veterans Cemetery in Fort Harrison.

He is survived by his wife, Diana Reilly, of Cascade; daughters, Frances Reilly of Colonial Beach, Va., and Cynthia (Ajit) Reilly-Sil of Westlake, Ohio, and their children Aron and Amy Sil of Westlake, Ohio; sons, Eugene Nisbet of Great Falls, and David Brown of Washington; sister, Kay Reilly of Big Timber; and grandchildren, Derek Nisbet of Dillon and Talesha Rate of Great Falls.

Ruddy was born on Feb. 6, 1931, in Livingston, Mont., and was raised there. He completed high school and went on to numerous military schools. In 1947, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and retired after 21 years in 1968. He served in Korea, Vietnam and the Dominican Republic and received the Purple Heart for wounds in Vietnam. He then retired after 40 years of service to all veterans on July 1, 2008, with the Montana Veterans Affair Division.

In 1955, Ruddy married Florence Lozon, and they later divorced. He then married Diana Nisbet in Great Falls in 1984, and they were married 26 years until his death.

Ruddy was a member of the Masons, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans and was a past department commander of the American Legion of Montana.

Ruddy was preceded in death by his parents, Henry B. and Alpha Reilly.

Memorials are suggested to the American Legion of Montana Endowment Fund.

Ruddy Rayner Reilly, 79, of Cascade, a retired Montana Veterans Affairs Division service officer and retired U.S. Army veteran, died Thursday at a local hospital of lung and spine cancer. Cremation has taken place under the direction of Croxford Funeral Home. A memorial service will take place at 10 a.m. Monday at Croxford Funeral Home, with interment at a later date at the Montana State Veterans Cemetery in Fort Harrison.

He is survived by his wife, Diana Reilly, of Cascade; daughters, Frances Reilly of Colonial Beach, Va., and Cynthia (Ajit) Reilly-Sil of Westlake, Ohio, and their children Aron and Amy Sil of Westlake, Ohio; sons, Eugene Nisbet of Great Falls, and David Brown of Washington; sister, Kay Reilly of Big Timber; and grandchildren, Derek Nisbet of Dillon and Talesha Rate of Great Falls.

Ruddy was born on Feb. 6, 1931, in Livingston, Mont., and was raised there. He completed high school and went on to numerous military schools. In 1947, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and retired after 21 years in 1968. He served in Korea, Vietnam and the Dominican Republic and received the Purple Heart for wounds in Vietnam. He then retired after 40 years of service to all veterans on July 1, 2008, with the Montana Veterans Affair Division.

In 1955, Ruddy married Florence Lozon, and they later divorced. He then married Diana Nisbet in Great Falls in 1984, and they were married 26 years until his death.

Ruddy was a member of the Masons, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans and was a past department commander of the American Legion of Montana.

Ruddy was preceded in death by his parents, Henry B. and Alpha Reilly.

Memorials are suggested to the American Legion of Montana Endowment Fund.