Obituaries - Rev. Earl Lewis Kainz

Rev. Earl Lewis Kainz, 83, passed away in the early morning hours Oct. 12, 2016 with his grandson Daniel by his side.

Earl was born in Minneapolis April 11, 1933, under very difficult circumstances. He had all sorts of medical issues that caused him to spend the first few years of his life in the hospital. The miracles the medical staff preformed are still a mystery to us all. After spending several years in foster care, at 8 years old he was finally placed with Joseph and Helen Kainz of Little Falls, Minnesota. They provided him with a strong Christian upbringing and the drive to never give up. At 18, he took their last name legally.

After graduation, he headed to Havre, Montana, to find a better life. He began work at Montana Power in the accounting department. One day while having lunch, he noticed this raven- haired beauty working at the Buttrey's café. Her name was Dorothy Vaughn, and they were married Oct. 31, 1954. She was the love of his life. He attended college at Northern Montana College in Havre and obtained his teaching certificate. He taught school in Kremlin and then spent 25 years teaching in Livingston. They adopted two children while living in Livingston. He was a well-loved teacher and talented vocalist.

After he retired from teaching in 1983, he had a strong calling to the ministry. He attended Southern Methodist University in the summers for five years and graduated in 1990. While doing his studies, he presided over a United Methodist church in Scobey from 1985-1991. He then transferred to Big Sandy for four more years. They retired to Billings in 1995.

Earl was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Jerry of Enterprise, Alabama, and his darling wife, Dorothy, and their son, Jerry Joe; his sisters- and brothers-in-law, Arthur Vaughn of Conrad, Albert and Lorraine Vaughn, Ralph and Ruth Vaughn, Ray and Virginia Vaughn, Jim and Loretta Vaughn, Bill and Clara Franks all of Havre, Jacob and Mildred Keefer of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

He is survived by his daughter, Clara (Tom) Liedle and his beloved grandchildren, Jennifer and Cedrick Ford and Daniel Liedle, all of Bozeman; sisters-in-law, Elizabeth Kainz of Enterprise, Alabama, and Jean Vaughn of Great Falls; and numerous nieces and nephews, grandnieces and nephews, and great-grandnieces and nephews which he adored and treasured; numerous friends who were considered family.

Funeral arrangements are being provided by Smiths Funeral Chapel-downtown.

Funeral services will be held at the Evangelical United Methodist Church, 345 Broadwater Ave., Billings. Visitation will be held at the church from 2 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 16, and services thereafter. Interment will be Monday, Oct. 17, at 1 p.m. at Sunset Memorial Gardens.

Live stream for those unable to attend is at http://www.actyourfaith.org; go to the worship live icon.

Memorials can be sent to his daughter in Bozeman at 506 Meagher, 59718 and will be donated to his favorite charities.

Condolences can be made to the family by visiting smithfuneralchapels.com