Luther Luke Lalum, 88

Luke Lalum, 88, a resident of Kalispell for the past 73 years, died Friday, April 9, 2010, at Brendan House, peacefully surrounded by his family. Luke was born May 7, 1921, on the family farm, in Maddock, N.D., to Esther and Sigurd Lalum. He was the youngest of six children. Luke was loved, and will be missed by all who knew him and had the privilege of calling him husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, friend and teacher. Luke s father died in 1937, when he was 16. At that time his mother and family moved to the Flathead Valley. Luke graduated from Flathead County High School in 1941, and was a member of the Flathead FFA, Flathead s first State Championship football team, concert choir, and a member of the Army National Guard. In 1941, he briefly attended the University of Montana until he enlisted in the Air Force on Jan. 8, 1942. During World War II, he was a member of the 447th Bombardment Squadron, where he was the flight engineer and tail gunner on a B-25, in North Africa, Italy, Greece, Tunisia and the Balkans. He completed his 50 missions in October 1943, and was awarded the Purple Heart, Good Conduct medal, four Bronze Stars, eight Air Medals with Oak Leaf Clusters and a Distinguished Unit Citation. Luke returned to the United States and enrolled at Montana State College with a football scholarship, and majored in agricultural education, graduating in 1950. He met Marilyn Moorhouse while teaching in Fairview, and they were married in 1951. They came to Kalispell in 1952, where he taught vocational agriculture until his retirement in 1981. He was a dedicated teacher whose students were an important part of his life. While teaching, he was elected national president of the Agriculture Teachers Association, a member of the Evergreen Lions, Evergreen School board, Parish Council of Risen Christ, and was president of the Montana Vocational Association. Luke designed the current H.E. Robinson Vo-Ag Center. During his years as a teacher of vocational agriculture, he was part of developing one of the premier Ag programs in the country. Luke retired from teaching in 1981 and worked for the Flathead Conservation District for six years. During retirement he enjoyed his family, friends, golfing, wood carving, bridge, camping, fishing, and winters in Palm Springs. Luke is survived by his wife of 57 years, Marilyn; daughter, Mary Lynn Baker, of Deer Park, Wash.; son, Mark Lalum, and wife, Wendy, of Kalispell; grandchildren, Trevor Baker, and wife, Jaidean, of Spokane, Jennifer Rasmussen, and husband, Logun, of Deer Park, Wash., Ashley and Ryan Lalum, of Kalispell; great-grandchildren, Teagun and Emery Baker, of Spokane; as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Luke was preceded in death by his parents, Sigurd and Esther; sisters, Eldora Kinyon and Leona Kinyon; and brothers, Palmer, Sig and Ray. The family wishes to thank the staff at Brendan House for their exceptional care of Dad. Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 17, at Risen Christ Catholic Church in Evergreen. Rosary service will be at 7 p.m. Friday at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home. Open casket visitation will be from 3 to 6 p.m. Friday at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home. Burial will be at Glacier Memorial Gardens. To send condolences to the family please go to www.buffalohillfh.com. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home is caring for the family. The family request memorials be made to the Flathead FFA, 644 Fourth Ave. W., Kalispell, MT 59901.