Roland E. Giese, 82

Roland E. Giese passed away Feb. 28, 2006, at Kalispell Regional Hospital after a brave battle with cancer.

Roland was born Dec. 12, 1923, in Sunburst. His family moved to Kalispell, and that is where he spent his remaining years.

Roland served in the U.S. Army from 1943 to 1945. He was stationed in the Philippines, and it was there that he was wounded and awarded the Purple Heart of Honor.

In 1961, Roland married Cora Getzloff; they lived and raised their family in Kalispell, where he worked for Equity Supply for 20 years. Roland was a wonderful stepfather to five of Cora's children. He was an avid hunter and spent time taking his stepsons and his grandson and teaching them about nature and the art of hunting. Roland also loved to fish and didn't share his secret fishing spots with too many people.

Roland spent many a day at the Senior Citizens Center with friends just visiting and doing one of his favorite pastimes, playing cards. He loved his daily walks and making sure he got to Syke's for his coffee with his buddies.

Roland was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Emma Giese; brothers, Alvin Giese, Durward Giese, Clifford Giese, and Fred Giese Jr.; and sisters, Dorothy Dickenson and Irene Jackson.

He is survived by his wife, Cora, and stepdaughter, Monda Rae Zorn, of Kalispell; four stepsons, Doyle Zorn of Des Moines, Iowa, Laurel Zorn and wife, Pati, of Kalispell, Bernell Zorn and wife, Monica, of Tulsa, Okla., and Darwin Zorn of Kalispell; seven grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; two sisters, Betty Stubbs of Libby, and Altona West of Little Rock, Ark.; also many nieces and nephews.

"If you knew Roland, you just simply loved him, and we that loved him will miss him deeply."

A memorial service and the celebration of Roland's life will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 4, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 400 W. California St., in Kalispell. Graveside services will be held privately by family members.

Memorials may be donated to the Senior Citizens Center, 403 Second Ave. W., Kalispell, MT 59901.

Buffalo Hill Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family.