Vilas M. Au Claire, 85

Vilas M. Au Claire, 85, died Nov. 4, 2005, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

He is survived by his wife, Audrine 'Audy' (McClelland) of Kalispell; two daughters, Pam Nelson and Terilyn Anderson of Galt City, Calif.; and twin sons, Mike Au Claire of Roseville, Calif., and Rick Au Claire of Arcata, Calif.; also a sister, June Hill, of Kalispell; and two sisters-in-law, Jane Herbkersman and Tommy Lybeck, both of Kalispell. He is also survived by 13 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Pearl and Henry Au Claire; a brother, Harold; two sisters, Lola Craft and Lois Johnson; and stepmother, Clara.

Vilas was born in Kalispell, in 1920, and attended schools here.

He and Audy were married June 21, 1941.

He joined the Seabees in 1943, and later entered the Navy V-5 program, and was going to Flight Officers training when the war ended.

Vilas worked for Kalispell Lumber Co. for several years; in Port Angeles, Wash., for eight years; and in Arcata, Calif., for 12 years as a mill superintendent. He retired from Bohemia Inc., in 1982, and moved back to Kalispell. He also went to Argentina in 1994 as a sawmill consultant.

He was elected to the Saw Filers Hall of Fame on June 15, 2002.

Vilas loved time with his family, music and traveling to Arizona and California in the winter.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 19, at Calvary Lutheran Church in Kalispell with Pastor Kurt Rau.