Wallace H. 'Wally' Westermark, 83
Wallace H. "Wally" Westermark, 83, a longtime farmer and grain elevator operator as well as World War II veteran from Shelby, passed away Sunday, Nov. 20, 2005, at a Shelby-area hospital from natural causes.
Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Monday, Nov. 28, at St. Luke's Lutheran Church, followed by burial with military honors in the Valley View Cemetery. Whitted Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.whittedfuneralchapel.com.
Survivors include his daughter, Mary Jane Westermark, and Bill Yunck, of Whitefish; and a son, Jay, and Marge Westermark, of Billings; brother, Carl O. Westermark, of Shelby; two grandchildren, Dawn Westermark of Portland and Jenny Nava of Billings, as well as five great-grandchildren.
Wally was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Jane; sister, Agnes Lane; brother, Robert V. Westermark; granddaughter, Marianne Westermark; and longtime friend, Eleanor Adamson.
Wally was born Jan. 24, 1922, at Parshall, N.D., to Karl and Wilma (Lindgren) Westermark. He grew up in Chinook, where he graduated from high school in 1940.
Wally and Jane Badger were married Dec. 25, 1942, at Cut Bank. He worked for AA Aaris in the oilfields for a time before serving with the Army Air Corps from Feb. 13, 1944, to Nov. 1, 1945.
In 1947, the family bought a farm south of Devon. Along with the farming operation, he owned and operated grain elevators in Dunkirk, Devon, Galata and Lothair, which were later sold. It was only recently that he fully retired.
Wally was very active in the community and was a life member of the Galata American Legion Post No. 69; life member, past trustee and past exalted ruler of the Shelby BPOE Lodge No. 1696; and member of the Shelby Masonic Lodge No. 143, the Scottish Rite, the Albedoo Shrine in Billings, the Tri-County Shrine Club and served on the Marias Fair Board for many years.
The family suggests memorials to the Shriners Children's Hospital, 911 W. Fifth Ave., Spokane, WA. 99204-2901.