Olaf P. Vestre, 86

Olaf P. Vestre, 86, of Great Falls, passed away of natural causes Saturday evening, April 21, 2007, at Benefis Skilled Nursing Center in Great Falls.

Memorial services will be at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 25, at Bethel Lutheran Church in Great Falls. Interment will take place at a later date at the Montana State Veterans Cemetery at Fort Harrison.

Memorials in his name are suggested to Bethel Lutheran Church.

Olaf was born April 15, 1921, at Bone Trail, N.D., one of eight children, and moved with his family to Montana at the age of 3. His parents settled in the Creston area near Kalispell.

In 1942, Olaf enlisted in the U.S. Army, and served during World War II in the American, European and Asiatic Pacific.

He and Ruby Hull were married at a base chapel in Gulf Port, Miss., on Dec. 9, 1944. He was discharged from the military in February 1946. At that time, the couple settled in Kalispell, where they lived until 1950, when they moved to Great Falls. He had lived here since that time.

He was a member of Bethel Lutheran Church, a member of the Moose Lodge, the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Mr. Vestre was a carpenter and cabinetmaker for 35 years. He was also a member of the Carpenters' Local Union. He loved woodworking and spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He enjoyed sharing with them his love of fishing and building.

Survivors include two sons, Jon O. Vestre and Beverly of Helena, and Brian B. Vestre and Debra of Great Falls; nine grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren, and his loving companion of many years, Madelyn Moye.

In addition to his wife, Ruby, who preceded him in death in July 2000, he also was preceded in death by three brothers, and a sister.