LaMar "Bud" Orndorff, 87

Bud Orndorff, 87, passed away on Thursday, Dec. 16, 2004, at the Immanuel Lutheran Home in Kalispell.

Bud was born on May 1, 1917, in Warren. He was the oldest of seven children. At 16 he won first place in a statewide physical fitness competition, and at 19 he won Heavyweight Golden Gloves for the state of Montana.

He met Cora Agnes Rees at a church Halloween party in Washington, D.C. They were married in Pisgah, Md., at Cora's parent's home on Oct. 1, 1938. He served with the U.S. Army in Europe during World War II and fought in the Battle of the Bulge.

Bud took his six kids hiking and fishing in the mountains. He and the boys also enjoyed hunting. Bud worked many jobs, including ranch foreman, commercial fisherman, lumber-grader, Flathead Tunnel foreman, sawmill foreman and A.A.C. millwright.

He also served two terms as the mayor of Columbia Falls.

He always had a huge vegetable garden and built four houses in the area.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, two sisters, his wife of 66 years, Cora, and two sons, Alan and Paul.

He is survived by one brother, John, and two sisters, Anita and Donna; three sons and their wives, Gary and Carole Orndorff of Missoula, Brian and Darlene Orndorff of Kalispell, and Jan and Janet Orndorff of Florence; and one daughter and husband, Vicki and Ron Lamoreaux of Echo Lake. He had 12 grandchildren and over 24 great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 20, at the Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls.

A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 21, at the Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls.