Wilbur Paul Werner, 94

Wilbur Paul Werner, a distinguished citizen of Cut Bank, passed away in Mesa, Ariz., July 15, 2006, of natural causes. Wilbur was born Oct. 7, 1911, in Falls City, Neb., the second of three sons born to Albert and Anna Laura Werner. Wilbur spent his early childhood on the farm, but farm chores gave way to academic pursuits under tutelage of the Ursuline nuns. Graduating from Sacred Heart Academy in Falls City, he entered Creighton University in Omaha, Neb., in the fall of 1929.

Shortly after he entered Creighton, the stock market crashed and Wilbur's dreams of becoming a lawyer faded with the onset of the Great Depression. Two years later, broke and no degree, he returned to the farm and back-breaking construction work.

In 1933 he again pursued his goal of a law degree, this time enrolling in night school at the University of Omaha. To support school, he worked days as a bus boy, dishwasher, waiter, and any other odd jobs he could find. Three difficult years later, the law degree became reality.

In 1935, Wilbur married his high school sweetheart Mary Bauman, the mother of his five children. Wilbur was adventuresome and Montana was in his dreams. Enticed by stories from older brother Martin, he 'rode the rails' to southeastern Montana several times in the early '30s. He was once entrapped in a refrigerator car for over 24 hours, almost succumbing to the low oxygen. Then in 1937, he cast the die. With Mary and first child Purnee, he moved to Cut Bank.

Over the next 60 years, Wilbur became a respected attorney and a prominent leader in Cut Bank civic activities. He was an achiever with a passion for law and community service that knew few bounds. His life was grounded in strong religious beliefs. Morals and ethics were important to him.

Among his accomplishments were three terms as Glacier County attorney, membership and/or president of the Elks, Chamber of Commerce, Red Cross, local Democratic Party, and Boy Scouts to name a few.

A number of lawyers have worked in his law practice, including his son-in-law Jim Nelson, currently on the Montana Supreme Court and Larry Epstein, currently Glacier County attorney. In practicing law, Wilbur never forgot his rural Nebraska roots or the painful lessons of the Depression. He was trusted by farmers, ranchers, oilmen, and businessmen throughout the Cut Bank area who remained friends and faithful clients to the end. A lifelong Democrat, he still believed it was the man, not the party that counted.

Early on, he worked extensively with members of the Blackfeet Tribe. To many of the full-blood Indians, he was a valued and trusted friend. He was inducted into the Blackfeet tribe in 1941 with the name Ah-Po-Tu-Can (Weaselhead). Later, he served as federal magistrate on reservation issues.

Wilbur lived Western history with a passion. He saw himself as part of it. His interests spiraled beyond Cut Bank to the Montana Historical Society where he served on the board for many years, including two terms as president. He was a founding father of the Lewis & Clark Trail Heritage Foundation. Financially and otherwise, he worked tirelessly to protect the Lewis and Clark trail through its Western course. His work is legendary among Foundation members.

A Lewis and Clark scholar in his own right, his articles appeared in local, state and national publications. His home-spun slide show entertained hundreds as did his colorful, guided hikes to the Two Medicine site where Lewis and companions met with the Blackfeet. With gusto and personal anecdotes, Wilbur brought to life the inspiring story of Captain Meriwether Lewis and the Corps of Discovery. His private, extensive library of Lewis and Clark publications is now at the Glacier County Library in Cut Bank as the 'Wilbur Werner Western History Collection.'

The indelible strength Wilbur showed throughout life was grounded in his Catholicism. St. Margaret's Parish in Cut Bank was the focus of that bond. If there was volunteer work to be done, he did it. Between 1969 and 1975, when the first Diocesan Pastoral Councils were established, he became the first vice-president and then the president of the council. From 1973 to 1975, he was one of two representatives for Montana, Idaho, Washington and Oregon chosen to serve on the Advisory Council to the Council of Catholic Bishops and the United States Catholic Conference. In his memoirs, he said 'When I look back over the changes in the church since those days, I can scarcely believe it all.'

Wilbur was an avid hunter, enjoyed fishing, liked to bowl, and loved to golf. He fell in love with the majesty of Glacier National Park. That love affair passed on to his entire family via picnics, hikes and camping. Gardening was an annual activity that kept his hand in the soil — a defining link to his boyhood.

Wilbur explored new countries and new cultures with a boyhood fascination, even into his late 80s. He traveled extensively throughout the world, first with Mary, his wife of 45 years who died of cancer in 1980, and later with his second wife, Martha Hurd, of Mesa, Ariz. His optimistic outlook and insatiable curiosity about all things were passed on to his children.

He is survived by his wife and five children: Purnee and Don McCourt of Golden, Colo.; Lynn and Kit Payn of Saint John, New Brunswick; Kirwin and Carol Werner of Ronan; Chari and Jim Nelson of Helena; Mark and Vera Werner of Billings; and his friend and trusted brother, Vince Werner, and wife June, of Missoula. He has 17 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.

Wilbur was preceded in death by his older brother, Msgr. Martin E. Werner, in 1997. His life journey through the death of Mary is recounted in his autobiographical account 'Recall,' published in 1981 and available in local area libraries.

A memorial service will be held for Wilbur at 11 a.m. on Aug. 30 at St. Margaret's Catholic Church, Cut Bank. Interment will be at Crown Hill Cemetery, followed by a reception at St. Margaret's Social Hall.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Montana Justice Foundation, c/o State Bar of Montana, P.O. Box 577, Helena, MT 59624. The funds will be used to aid the indigent in legal matters.