Obituary - John C. Griffin

John C. Griffin, 88, passed away on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2014, at the Northern Montana Care Center of natural causes. 

Cremation has taken place, and graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 17, 2014, at Kuper Memorial Cemetery with military honors. 

Holland & Bonine Funeral Home has been entrusted with services and arrangements.  Please visit John's online memorial page and leave a message of condolence for his family at http://www.hollandbonine.com.

  John was born south of Havre in the Bear Paw Mountains on Jan. 30, 1926, to Tom and Alice (Peachie) Griffin.  Two children were born to that union, John Clarence and Evelyn Joyce. His parents later divorced, and his mother Alice married Leslie Joseph Campbell. Three children were born to that union, Rita Mae, Louella Frances and Patrick Joseph. 

  John joined the U.S. Navy when he was 18 years old, and served for two years.  He then enlisted in the Air Force for 17 years, and served as an instructor for inertial guiding systems for technical missiles.   Following his Air Force service, John finished out his military career in the Army National Guard, serving with the Guard for an additional 8 years. 

After John retired from the military, he moved to Chinook, working as a ranch hand for different ranchers in the area. Later, he worked for a few years on the Jorgensen farm in Harlem, until a stroke caused him to move to Chinook again and slow down.  His special companion for over 30 years was Donna Doughten, until she passed away in 2011.

John loved to go to the Mint to have a few beers and play the machines.  He also bowled on the "Over the Hill Gang" bowling team, and he loved working the VFW booth at the Chinook Fair. He was an enrolled member of the Little Shell Chippewa Tribe.

  John was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters Evelyn Mathias and Rita Schultz, and his long-time companion Donna Doughten.

He is survived by his brother Patrick Campbell, his sister Louella Fredricksen, and numerous nieces and nephews.