Walter E. Ingraham, 76

On Monday Nov. 19, 2012, with his bride of 54 years in his arms and his family’s love at his side, Walter E. Ingraham slipped peacefully “from this life to the next with the Lord in heaven.”  

Walt was born in Pablo on May 9, 1936, to Ronald and Evelyn Ingraham. He spent his early childhood in Pablo and Olney before honorably serving in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Shortly after his discharge, he returned to Olney and the love of his life, Bessie Ann Hunnewell. They were married Dec. 21, 1957, and blessed with eight children. He was a professional logger which gave the family an opportunity to move to a variety of locations in the Northwest. Olney was always home to the family.

His passions were spending time in the outdoors with his family, fishing, hunting and running a chain saw. He always made it a priority to attend all sporting events his children and grandchildren were involved in; he was so proud of each and everyone of them — he was a family man. He could often be found reading Louis L’Amour, listening to country music and watching Western movies all at the same time.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Bessie Ann Ingraham; eight children, Debra and Eldon Eveland, Ervin and Arleen Ingraham, Brenda and Fred Fredrickson, Janet and Kenneth Bridges, Rick and Pam Ingraham, David Ingraham, Jody and Amy Ingraham, and Tonya Ingraham; also 13 grandchildren, including Jeffery, Eric, Travis, Tiffany and Sean, Andrew, Christopher, Brandon, Deidre, Brynn, Conner, Qynn, Kyiah and Ansen; and three great-grandchildren, Jacob, Isaac and Taylor; a brother, Vernon; two sisters, Donna and Beverly; and many friends from the community.

Walter was preceded in death by his parents, brother Ronald Jr., and granddaughter Emily Eveland.

A service of remembrance will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 24, at the Austin Funeral Home in Whitefish. There will be a viewing for Walt at 9:30 a.m., until time of services. Interment will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery in Columbia Falls. A potluck luncheon will be held at Muldown Elementary in Whitefish directly following the burial.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation to the Walter Ingraham memorial fund set up at the Whitefish Credit Union, P.O. Box 37, Whitefish, MT 59937

You are invited to go to www.austinfh.com to offer condolences, share memories and view Walt’s tribute wall.