Lew A. Curtis, 98

Lew A. Curtis, 98, 'went to be with his Lord' on April 18, 2007, surrounded by his family at home in Missoula. Lew was born in 1908, in Nahma, Michigan to Asa and Ina Curtis. He had an older sister, Grace Lyle. At an early age his family moved to Astoria, Ore., where he started school. He liked to spend time at the Columbia River docks watching and talking to the fisherman and sometimes was given a salmon to take home. He enjoyed spending vacations by the ocean at his aunt's cottage on Cannon Beach. His brother, Harold, was born in Astoria.

In 1918, when he was 10, his parents homesteaded near Fortine. He helped build their log house and barns along with the hard work of clearing fields from the timbered land. He walked 2 miles to school each day. Another sister, Ruth, was born on the homestead.

In 1934 he married Dorothy Brown in Kalispell. They made their home near Fortine, where he drove the school bus, worked in the woods, and cut Christmas trees. Two daughters, Della and Marie, were each born in Eureka, and later two sons; Jack and James. During World War II he began working on the section crew for the Great Northern Railroad and retired at age 65.

In his retirement years the couple traveled extensively in the U.S. and visited family in Alaska, and moved to Kalispell where Dorothy passed away in 1996. Lew spent his final years in an apartment near his son, James, in Missoula.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Harold; and his wife, Dorothy, of 62 years of marriage.

He is survived by his sisters; Grace Johnston in Missoula and Ruth Pomeroy in Kalispell; four children, Della Holcomb in Troy, Marie Ivers in Yakatat, Alaska; Jack Curtis in Columbia Falls; James Curtis in Missoula; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 24, at the Fortine Community Church with Rev. Cade Bichel, officiating. Interment will follow at the Fortine Cemetery under the direction of the Austin Funeral Home in Whitefish.