John Bolme, 81

John Bolme, 81, passed away on Tuesday, March 8, 2005, at the Kalispell Regional Medical Center in Kalispell.

He was born on April 18, 1923, in Rindal, Norway, to Ole and Mary (Torset) Bolme. John moved with his family to Duluth, Minn., at the age of 3. He received his education, graduating from Denfeld High School in Duluth.

John enlisted in the Navy in 1943 and served aboard the USS Johnston destroyer during the Battle of Leyte Gulf as a seaman first class. His ship was sunk and only one third of the crew survived. John, among others, floated on a life raft for three days until being rescued. Back in the states, John attended Dunwoody Institute in Minneapolis in 1945.

John married Amelia Ellen Maki on June 8, 1946, in the Mount Zion Lutheran Church in Duluth. The couple remained in Duluth where John worked as a postal clerk until moving to Boulder, Colo., in 1956. In Boulder he again worked with the postal service until his retirement in 1978.

John and Amelia spent their winters in Tucson, Ariz., for many years. They enjoyed the activities available through the mobile home park which included hiking, biking and golf. They also enjoyed many summertime walks along the bike paths in Boulder. In 2003 the couple moved to Kalispell.

John was preceded in death by his parents; one sister and one nephew.

He is survived by his wife, Amelia; two daughters, Sharon Wilkins and husband, Ed, of Ft. Collins, Colo., and their two sons, David and Keith, and Kathryn Eff and husband, James, of Kalispell, and their three sons, Ryan, Craig and Andrew; one son, John Stephen Bolme of Gateway, Colo., and his son, Nick. John is also survived by one sister, Bertha Gudvangen; and a great-grandson, Jesse Bolme.

Memorial services for John will be held 10 a.m. Saturday, March 12, at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church with Pastor Lindean Barnett officiating.

Johnson Mortuary and Crematory is caring for John's family.