Obituary: Milton W. Madsen

Milton W. Madsen, born June 14, 1938, to Ted and Anna (Friesen) Madsen, died on March 12, 2017, at the Missouri River Care Center in Great Falls, Montana, at the age of 78.

Milton attended Havre schools and achieved his GED as an adult. At the age of 17 he enlisted in the U.S. Army and achieved the status of MP before receiving an honorable discharge. After returning to Havre, he was involved in many youth-oriented activities including the Havre youth boxing organization, 4-H, and mall Santa, to name a few. He was a fan of his nephews and nieces in all the sporting and 4-H activities in which they participated.

He walked thousands of miles in countless fund-raisers for multiple sclerosis, notably once from Troy, Montana, to Bainville, Montana, and another time from Havre to Kenosha, Wisconsin, which was 50 miles from his goal of Chicago — he was given a ride in a police escort for the remainder. He received national and state recognition for his efforts.

Milton held various jobs over the years, at the Havre Livestock, at the old Pacific Hide and Fur, and as a general farm laborer. The position he held the longest was as a teacher’s aide for Head Start.

He was an avid reader and fisherman, teaching some of his nephews how to fish, and he loved to go deer and antelope hunting with his parents. He had a gift for pencil and ink art that went unrecognized. He never had a driver’s license, getting around by walking or by riding his bicycle.

He was well known around Havre, and will be sorely missed by family and friends.

Milton was preceded in death by his parents, Ted and Anna Madsen; an infant brother; nephew Michael Buell; and niece Tami Buell. Survivors include brothers, Frank (Lois) Madsen of Helena and Bill (Carol) Madsen of Gillette, Wyoming; and sisters Anna Mae (Blackie) Gomke of Great Falls, Fran (Jim) Buell of Gildford and Judy (Bob) Vosen of Havre; and numerous nieces, nephew and friends.

Memorials are suggested to the Havre-Hill County Library or to the donors’ choice.