Mark Widdis

Mark Ramon Widdis, 87, a Rudyard farmer, died Nov. 22, at Northern Montana Hospital, in Havre from pneumonia.

Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Wednesday at Calvary Church in Rudyard with burial in Rudyard Cemetery. There will be a viewing at the Rockman Funeral Chapel in Chester on Monday and Tuesday. Memorials may be given to the Care & Comfort Home in Havre or donor's choice.

Mark was born July 30, 1923, at Woodpecker, B.C., Canada. He was the one of three children born to Robert and Elizabeth (Bair) Widdis. He grew up and received his education at Woodpecker.

Mark enlisted in the Canadian Army in 1941 and served overseas during World War II. He attained the rank of CFN and was honorably discharged in 1946. In 1948 he came to Rud-yard to farm his mother's homestead. In the years that followed, Mark farmed and cared for his aging mother and uncle.

He married a Rudyard area widow and friend, Crystle (Sherman) Flint, on Oct. 29, 1979. They made their home in Rudyard and Mark commuted to the farm. In 1995 he suffered a massive stroke, which left him debilitated, so he leased out his farm to the Jerry Copenhaver family. Mark continued to live at home, where he received loving care from Crystle and local friends. In 2007, he transferred to the Care & Comfort Home in Havre and was recently admitted to the Havre hospital for acute care.

Mark was raised in the Protestant faith and attended the Calvary Church in Rudyard. Over the years, he was active in the local Farmers Union and served as the Rudyard representative on many Ag-related trips and seminars.

Mark enjoyed his life as a Montana farmer and raising/training his Percheron horses. A man of few hobbies, he did enjoy square dancing, welding and working on machinery. He was an early riser and hard worker his entire life. Mark was self-taught, soft-spoken, and a "down to earth" man who was well-liked and respected in the community.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Don.

He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Crystle Widdis of Rudyard; his daughter, Nyla (Mark) Moore of Ridgecrest, Calif.; four grandchildren, Caleb (Kristin) Moore, Colby (Deidre) Moore, Jennifer Moore and Jocelyn (Trent) Lail; eight great-grandchildren, Samantha, Elijah, Gabriel, August, Amalie, Landen, Logan and Liam; his sister, Vira King of Milk River, Alberta; and many nephews and nieces.

Mark Ramon Widdis, 87, a Rudyard farmer, died Nov. 22, at Northern Montana Hospital, in Havre from pneumonia.

Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Wednesday at Calvary Church in Rudyard with burial in Rudyard Cemetery. There will be a viewing at the Rockman Funeral Chapel in Chester on Monday and Tuesday. Memorials may be given to the Care & Comfort Home in Havre or donor's choice.

Mark was born July 30, 1923, at Woodpecker, B.C., Canada. He was the one of three children born to Robert and Elizabeth (Bair) Widdis. He grew up and received his education at Woodpecker.

Mark enlisted in the Canadian Army in 1941 and served overseas during World War II. He attained the rank of CFN and was honorably discharged in 1946. In 1948 he came to Rud-yard to farm his mother's homestead. In the years that followed, Mark farmed and cared for his aging mother and uncle.

He married a Rudyard area widow and friend, Crystle (Sherman) Flint, on Oct. 29, 1979. They made their home in Rudyard and Mark commuted to the farm. In 1995 he suffered a massive stroke, which left him debilitated, so he leased out his farm to the Jerry Copenhaver family. Mark continued to live at home, where he received loving care from Crystle and local friends. In 2007, he transferred to the Care & Comfort Home in Havre and was recently admitted to the Havre hospital for acute care.

Mark was raised in the Protestant faith and attended the Calvary Church in Rudyard. Over the years, he was active in the local Farmers Union and served as the Rudyard representative on many Ag-related trips and seminars.

Mark enjoyed his life as a Montana farmer and raising/training his Percheron horses. A man of few hobbies, he did enjoy square dancing, welding and working on machinery. He was an early riser and hard worker his entire life. Mark was self-taught, soft-spoken, and a "down to earth" man who was well-liked and respected in the community.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Don.

He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Crystle Widdis of Rudyard; his daughter, Nyla (Mark) Moore of Ridgecrest, Calif.; four grandchildren, Caleb (Kristin) Moore, Colby (Deidre) Moore, Jennifer Moore and Jocelyn (Trent) Lail; eight great-grandchildren, Samantha, Elijah, Gabriel, August, Amalie, Landen, Logan and Liam; his sister, Vira King of Milk River, Alberta; and many nephews and nieces.