Laddie Edward Cubrda, 91

Laddie Edward Cubrda, 91, of Kalispell passed away Feb. 13, 2007, at Heritage Place in Kalispell. Before being in Heritage Place, he resided with his wife, Ethel, at Prestige Assisted Living.

Laddie was born Sept. 1, 1915, in Chicago to Edward and Anna Cubrda.

After marrying his first wife, Ruth, they moved to Burbank, Calif., and raised two children. Laddie went to work at Lockheed Skunkworks, building planes, working on several projects, including the SR-71 Blackbird, He loved his work, and retired from Lockheed in the '70s.

After Ruth's passing, he married Ethel in 1979.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Edward; sisters, Lillian and Mildred and their spouses; wife, Ruth; daughter, Beatrice Thayer, and her husband, Ray; and Ethel's son and daughter, Jack Hecketsweiler and Ann Bielz.

He is survived by his wife, Ethel; son and daughter-in-law, Edward and Colete of Grants Pass, Ore.; son-in-law, Arthur Bielz, of Victor, Colo.; grandchildren, Karen Thayer of Redding, Calif.; Rondi and Bill Martin of Grants Pass, Bryan and Debi Fischer of Los Angeles; Arthur and Tracie Bielz of Kalispell; Katrina and Rodney Vannest of Victor; and Donald Bielz of Colorado Springs, Colo.; great-grandchildren, Megan Miletich and her husband, Eric, A.J. Bielz and Toby Carter; Emelia, Colete and William Martin; and Bryce and Griffin Fisher; numerous nieces and nephews, cousins and many, many friends.

The family would like to offer a special thanks to all those who took care of Laddie, both at Prestige and Heritage Place.

Laddie's gentle humor, kind heart and his fierce love of his family will never be forgotten.

A brief prayer service will be held at Prestige Assisted Living at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 18.