George Roy Niewoehner, 73

George Roy Niewoehner, who was born on July 11, 1939, in Helena, died on Dec. 15, 2012, in Kalispell after a brief, but ravaging illness.

He was the oldest son of George Edward and Mary Priscilla Metzger Niewoehner.

Roy grew up in White Sulphur Springs, where he reluctantly shared unfettered rural Montana with having to go to school. He graduated from White Sulphur Springs High School in 1958, and received a Bachelor of Science degree in education from Montana State University-Dillon in 1963.

On Dec. 27, 1963, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, and served honorably in Vietnam until his discharge on Dec. 21, 1965.

During the ensuing years, he taught at Havre High School, followed by wonderful experiences throughout Alaska where he worked as a boom man at the Ketchikan Pulp Mill, and as a roofer for a business in Homer.

In April of 1970, he married a greenhorn he’d met way back in 1962. Roy and Elizabeth built a life for 27 years in Colstrip, where he worked for Long Construction, Western Energy and the Montana Power Company. He was the father to two wonderfully self-sufficient children. The family has lived in the Flathead since 2000.

A man of many talents and interests, Roy was particularly an artisan of carpentry. There are places and people enjoying the products of his amazing and meticulous craftsmanship.

He is survived by his mother, Priscilla; wife, Elizabeth; brother, Dirk; sister, Ramona; son Tyson and Shelley, and Riley and Taylor; and daughter Heather and Brian, and Savanah and Olivia.

Roy contributed often to the Heritage Foundation, NRA, VFW and Disabled Veterans. You can too, if you wish.