Obert A. Tu, 72

 Obert A. “Obie” Tu was “called to the Lord” suddenly on Dec. 25, Christmas Day, 2013, in Yuma, Ariz. at age 72.  He was born Dec. 15, 1941, in Circle, Mont., to Olaf and Ada Tu.

Obie attended Circle High School where he played basketball and graduated as salutatorian. He served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam after attending Rocky Mountain College in Billings. He then moved to Polson, where he worked for Mission Valley Power, starting as a lineman and retiring as operations superintendent after 34 years. 

He met Sharon Raymond and married her March 23, 1969. Obie and Sharon raised three sons and one daughter in the Polson area. Sharon passed away in July 1997.  

He then met the second love of his life, Carol Weaver, in Yuma. Carol and Obie were married on Dec. 12, 2011. Carol and Obie split their time among Yuma, Polson and traveling.  Obie was an avid outdoorsman and wood craftsman. He also enjoyed a good card game, sports and most recently golf. He really loved to laugh. The most important aspects of his life were his family and friends. He was a loving husband and father and a proud grandfather (Papa).  

Obie leaves behind his wife, Carol; three sons, Jon Sonju and wife, Ranae, of Anchorage, Alaska; Rick Sonju of Thompson Falls; Doug Tu and wife, Michelle, of Columbia Falls; and one daughter Teresa Davis and husband, Ashley, of Lake Stevens, Wash. He also leaves behind a stepson, Mike Turner and wife, Renee, of Cerritos, Calif.  

He leaves behind eight grandchildren as well: Jon, Erik and Greg Sonju; Courtney, Alyssa and Dayne Tu; and Easton and Morgan Turner. He also just became a great-grandfather to Lilliana Sonju.

Funeral services for Obie will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 4, 2014, at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Polson, with lunch to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer donations in Obie's name to the American Heart Association or the American Cancer Society.

Arrangements are under the direction of Grogan Funeral Home and Crematory. Memories of condolence may be shared with the family online at www.groganfuneralhome.com.