Roy George Lucas, 73

Roy George Lucas peacefully left this world on Friday, Dec. 21, 2012, of natural causes.

He was born April 28, 1939, to Glen and Mildred (Baeth) Lucas in Libby. His father Glen was killed in a logging accident when he was less than a year old, and he always knew and called Duane Whitehouse “Dad.” Soon a brother and sister joined the family, Sara Ann Whitehouse and Kent Whitehouse.

Roy was very involved in sports during his childhood and high school years and earned the distinction of captain of the football team.

He received his engineering degree from Montana State University-Northern in Havre and was promptly employed by the U.S. Forest Service as a drafting engineer. He designed many roads, campgrounds, etc ... one, among many, is Terriault Lakes Campground.

Roy met and married Bonnie Walker in 1960 and they had two daughters, Jackie and Heidi. They resided in Libby until 1965, during which time they were very involved in the Jaycees. He was also an avid classic car enthusiast during this time of his life.

He loved Montana and Idaho where he lived all of his life with the exception of a brief three-year period, from 1965 to 1968, when he moved his young family to San Rafael, Calif. He took a job at PP & L.

Roy loved to camp and be out-of-doors as much as possible, enjoying hunting, fishing and any activity that took him into the mountains to see God's glorious creation. He also had an immense love of animals, especially dogs, having rescued several, giving them loving homes.

Roy and Bonnie divorced in 1972. He took a Forest Service transfer to Orofino, Idaho, and met and married Karen Carlson. He was overjoyed to have Karen in his life, along with her five wonderful children, Terry, Rick, Mike, Dena and Rob. The couple resided in Idaho for years. They returned to Columbia Falls after Roy's retirement in 1990.

He met lifelong friends, John and Peggy Haight, whom he always considered family and were truly a blessing to him, more than they'll ever know. Roy took an engineering job in Whitefish at WMW Engineering until his heart attack in 1998 when he was forced to “truly retire.”

Roy was a wonderful man, always caring about others. He had a wonderful sense of humor and wit, no matter his situation. He brightened the lives of all his caregivers and all he came into contact with.

“The void he leaves in our lives is immense but we rejoice that he has flown away to be with his Lord and Savior and is free from the pain and sickness of this world.”

He was preceded in death by his stepsons, Terry and Rob; father, Glen Lucas; and stepfather, Duane Whitehouse.

Survivors include his wife, Karen Lucas, of Columbia Falls; mother Mildred Whitehouse, brother Kent Whitehouse and sister Sara Whitehouse, all of Libby; daughters, Jackie LeBlanc and husband Robert of Fortine, and Heidi Freemantle of Jimboomba, Australia; grandchildren, Robert, Aaron, Hannah, Maya, Rick, Mike and Dena; and numerous great-grandchildren, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.

Visitation will be from 1 to 8 p.m. today, Dec. 28, at Schnackenberg & Nelson Funeral Home. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 29, at Christ Lutheran Church in Libby.