Wendell Jean Barbee, 76
Wendell Jean Barbee, 76, died of cancer Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2005, at Brendan House in Kalispell.
He was born Jan. 4, 1929, in Pullman, Wash., to Oscar Earl and Sarah Edith (Dark) Barbee. Wendell worked in his high school years during World War II for the Soil Conservation Service. After the war, he also worked at the Cordova Theater and Strupplen's Restaurant.
He was president of the student body at Pullman High School his senior year and graduated from there in 1947. After high school, he entered Washington State University. He graduated from Washington State University in 1951, majoring in history and foreign languages, and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Lambda Chi Alpha.
He continued on with graduate studies at WSU, until he was drafted into the Army during the Korean War in 1953. Upon discharge from the Army in 1955, he began working at the Whitman County Soil Conservation Service office in Colfax, Wash.
Wendell married Karen Elise Jacobsen in King County, Wash., on Nov. 12, 1961. They moved to St. Maries in 1965, where Wendell continued to work with the SCS until the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service hired him in 1965 as a contracting officer for the St. Joe National Forest. He transferred to the Colville National Forest in 1967, moving to Colville, Wash., then to the Flathead National Forest and Kalispell in 1969. Wendell retired from the Forest Service in 1989.
He was active in the Flathead Credit Union, serving on the supervisory committee for many years. He served four years on both the Montana State Legacy Legislature and the legislative committee for the local AARP. He was a lifetime member of the Local Chapter 646 of National Association of Retired Federal Employees and published the chapter newsletter for many years, as well as filling several offices.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Karen, in August 2005; his parents; and two sisters, Louise Dixon and Maxine Lafferty.
He is survived by his three sons, Charles Barbee and wife Annu, their daughter, Uma, and son, Ammar, of New York, Daniel Barbee and wife, Janet, their sons, Connor and Tyler of Mill Valley, Calif., and Christopher Barbee of New Mexico; brother, Ronald Barbee and wife, Margaret, of Spokane, and their families; a niece and five nephews and their families; and a stepsister, Betty Miller, and her family in Longview, Wash.
There will be no public services or visitation, but friends and neighbors are invited to stop by the family home to visit with the family from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to Brendan House, 350 Conway Drive, Kalispell, MT 59901.
Johnson Mortuary and Crematory is caring for Wendell's family.