Earl R. Courtnage

Earl R. Courtnage, 75, died Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2011, at Peace Hospice in Great Falls, Mont., after battling cancer. His memorial service will be 10 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 4, 2011, at the Ark Church in Havre, with Kevin Barsotti officiating. A luncheon will be held at the Eagles Club immediately after the service.

His entombment will be held at a later time in Great Falls at the Hillcrest Mausoleum. Memorial contributions in Earl's honor may be made to the McLaughlin Institute in Great Falls or to Kitty Keepers in Havre. Services and arrangements have been entrusted to Holland & Bonine Funeral Home.

Earl R. Courtnage

Earl was born July 13, 1936, in Great Falls, Mont., to Arlo and Albertine (Clawiter) Courtnage. He was raised and educated in Great Falls and enlisted in the Air National Guard. He worked for a mining company as a crane operator for a short time before going to work for the Anaconda Smelter in Great Falls, where he had many jobs.

Everyone at the Smelter knew Earl. He was a friendly and outgoing person who made friends wherever he went. Earl lived in Great Falls for 50 years. He moved to Havre and worked for the City Of Havre as a laborer and later retired. He married Debbie Bachini on June 19, 1997, and the couple lived in Havre and cared for many animals together.

Earl was a member of the Eagles Club in Havre and served as trustee for a number of years and president of the Eagles Club for one year. He was also a long-time cancer survivor, surpassing initial medical diagnoses and as a result had a greater quality of life and lived better with all the cancer he had. Earl received treatment in Seattle, Wash,; Houston, Texas, Great Falls and Havre.

He was preceded in death by his birth father, Arlo R. Courtnage; his step-father, Arthur R. Moore; and his mother, Albertine "Bertie" Moore.

Earl is survived by his wife, Debbie Courtnage of Havre; his sister, Dorothy Wilson of Shalimar, Fla.; his good friend and caregiver during his illness, Mort Goldstein of Havre; and several extended family, aunts, uncles and cousins.

Earl's sister, Dorothy, wanted to write this obituary in honor of Earl because she will be unable to attend his memorial service.