Obituary - Gerald L. Grabofsky

Gerald L. Grabofsky, 76, passed away due to natural causes on Tuesday, November 27, 2018, at Northern Montana Hospital.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. today, Monday, December 3, 2018, at Messiah Lutheran Church, with viewing available one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow in Highland Cemetery.

Gerald’s family has suggested memorial donations be made in his name to Messiah Lutheran Church, Feed My Sheep Soup Kitchen, Care and Comfort Home, or to the charity of the donor’s choice.

Holland & Bonine Funeral Home has been entrusted with services and arrangements.

Please visit Gerald’s online memorial page and leave a message of condolence for his family at http://www.hollandbonine.com.

Gerald was born on July 21, 1942, in Malta to Wilhelm and Margaret (Sveen) Grabofsky, and was raised on the family farm outside of Loring. He graduated from Malta High School in 1960, and entered the U.S. Army where he served as an Airframe Repairman at Fort Wainwright outside of Fairbanks, Alaska, until his honorable discharge in 1963. After his discharge, Gerald returned to Montana, where he settled in Havre to attend Northern Montana College. There, he met Marietta Taylor, and the couple married in 1965. In 1966, after graduating with his degree in drafting, Gerald obtained the position of city engineer for the city of Havre, which he held until his retirement in 1998. Marietta passed away the following year. In 2004, Gerald married June Liebelt, and became a well-loved member of her close-knit family.

He enjoyed camping, painting, gardening, fishing, carpentry, and reading, and in his younger years, hunting and bronc riding. He learned to love flying while crop dusting with his uncle, and obtained his pilot’s license. When he was younger, Gerald also played guitar and sang in a band. He was a member of the FOE for over 55 years.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Marietta Grabofsky; parents, Wilhelm and Margaret Grabofsky; and son Michael Liebelt.

Gerald is survived by his wife, June Grabofsky of Havre; children Cindy (Dave) Clark of Rapid City, SD, Jeff Liebelt of WI, Jacque Beffer of Havre, and Mark Liebelt of Great Falls; seven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; siblings Willard (Barb) Grabofsky of Eugene, OR, and Marilyn (George) Clinger of Great Falls; and several nieces and nephews.