Roy Eugene Wendt, 81

Roy Eugene Wendt, 81, a lifelong resident of the Flathead Valley, passed away from cancer May 19, 2008, at the home of his daughter in Rigby, Idaho.

Roy is survived by his wife, Jean; sister, Patricia (Wendt) Giroux; and brothers, John Wendt and Roger Wendt.

Roy was born in Kalispell to Gustav Carl Wendt Jr. and Minnie (Isch) Wendt on Nov. 26, 1926. Roy grew to manhood on the family farm in Creston. He graduated from Kalispell High School and began his college education at the University of Montana in Missoula. Later, Roy transferred to Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in agronomy, along with secondary and elementary teaching certificates. It was in Provo where he met his bride-to-be. After teaching for a number of years, Roy continued his education at Western Montana College of Education in Dillon, where he received a master's degree in educational administration.

Roy was drafted into the Army and served his country in Korea. He was assigned to the Southwest Signal Corps in San Luis Obispo, Calif., where he graduated as a high-speed radio operator. While in Korea, he was assigned to the 507th Signal Corps.

Roy was an industrious worker. He earned funds for college by working on the family farm, at Hungry Horse Dam during construction, and for the Bureau of Land Management. In 1958, Roy began his career in education at Kila, where he taught for one year before garnering a job at Martin City. While at Martin City, Roy augmented his teaching salary by working for the Forest Service during the summers. After a number of productive years in Martin City, Roy transferred to Columbia Falls, where he taught fifth grade. When the position opened, Roy became the elementary principal at Columbia Falls in 1969. While serving as elementary principal, Roy spent a number of years as assistant superintendent of schools, and then as principal of the Canyon Schools. For 18 of these education years, he was in charge of the United States Government Seismological Station, located near Hungry Horse.

Roy spent many years serving the youths of the Flathead Valley through the Boy Scouts of America. He was a scoutmaster for many years and then donated his time to the Flathead District as fundraising chairman. Roy was honored with the coveted Silver Beaver Award for his many years of dedicated service. Roy was also a Kiwanian and served as president of the chapter in Columbia Falls.

Roy was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and served in many positions, including as a missionary, scoutmaster, high councilor, branch president, bishop, stake president, area welfare director (for Montana and part of Wyoming), teacher, and home teacher.

Roy fulfilled eight church missions, five of them with his wife. His first mission call to the Central Atlantic States Mission came when he was 23. Two Kalispell stake missions were served before Roy retired. After retirement, he and his wife began serving missions together, beginning with a service mission for the Kalispell Stake. They then served in the South Pacific, where Roy was the area welfare director, and professor at the University of Xian, China Foreign Language University, under the direction of Brigham Young University's Kennedy Center for International Studies, served as institute and seminary director in Bohol, Philippines, and finally, served in the Family and Church History Mission, located at the Genealogical Library in Salt Lake City.

Roy married his sweetheart, Jean Davis, 52 years ago. They are proud parents of 12 children, Laurie, Daniel, Kraig, Tharon, Nathan, Benjamin, Ellen, Rachel, Scott, Juanita, Heidi, and Matthew. They are grandparents of 55, and great-grandparents of nine.

Roy was an avid reader. He loved to be outdoors. Fishing was his favorite sport, but he also loved hiking and hunting. Roy was a riveting story-teller and teacher of history. He enjoyed sports and timeless music. Roy was a world traveler. He criss-crossed his beloved United States, and also visited Africa, Europe, Canada, Mexico, Israel, Korea, China, Mongolia, Australia, New Zealand, and many islands of the South Pacific, including Western Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, and Tahiti.

Services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 24, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1780 Talbot Road, in Columbia Falls. A luncheon for all will be held at the church after internment at Fairview Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations be made to the following organizations:

1. To support youths in Columbia Falls: Boy Scouts of America, Troop No. 41 or Troop No. 18, c/o Kelly Ferguson, 608 U.S. 2 East, Columbia Falls, MT 59912. Telephone: 406-892-3423.

2. To help alleviate poverty in Third World countries: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Perpetual Education Fund, c/o Bishop Michael Webb, P.O. Box 386, Columbia Falls, MT 59912. Telephone: 406-892-1022.

Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls is in charge of the arrangements.