Sidney L. Workman, 96

Sidney L. Workman, 96, passed away peacefully into the hands of our Heavenly Father on Monday Dec. 14, 2015, in Eureka after a long stay at Mountain View Manor. Sid was born May 9, 1919, in a log cabin beside Pinkham Creek to Charles and Alta Workman.

He grew up on his father’s homestead on upper Pinkham with his two sisters and six brothers. Sid had an eventful youth as one time his brothers talked him into riding a calf which belonged to old Dan Anchor. When Dan saw them, the brothers ran away but Sid got hung up in the coral rails where Dan caught him and proceeded to give him a spanking to remember. (Dan had been a scout for the 7th Cavalry at the Battle of the Little Big Horn with General Custer.)

Sid attended his early school years at the Pinkham School and graduated from Lincoln County High School in 1940.

Sid became a packer at age 16 for the U.S. Forest Service on forest fires with his dad and ran his own pack string. In 1938 he manned the lookout on Mount Robinson and continued to work for the U.S. Forest Service until 1941. He was known to his colleges as Louie “The Whip” Workman. Sid joined the Army Air Force in August 1941. He trained as a military policeman and later trained as a Glider Pilot for the invasion of Europe. He shipped to England in 1943 and was attached to the 8th Air Force. He served until December 1945. Sid enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping and telling true stories.

Sid married his childhood sweetheart, Alice Marie Combs, in 1943. Their marriage brought 5 children and they were all were raised on Pinkham Creek.

Sid worked as a logger and then for the U.S. Forest Service until his retirement in 1981. He was always involved in the community as he served on the local school board for many years and for the council of the Holy Cross Lutheran Church. He was awarded Senior Citizen of the Year for the State of Montana by Sen. Max Baucus. Sid was loved by many and he loved them back and always would play his harmonica for any and all occasions. Sid was one of the last old-timers and was always called upon to tell of all the local history. He always had a sharp memory and could tell any story.

Sid is survived by two sons, Lee Workman and Steve Workman; daughters, Sandy McCrorie (John) and Sydney Lou Island; brothers, Harry Workman (Claire) and Jack Workman (Carol); and sisters, Lula Richmond and Elajean Henry, all of the Eureka area. He is also survived by 12 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Alice; daughter, Betty Jane; his parents, Charles and Alta Workman; and brothers, Wayne, Lynn, Chuck and Roger.

Funeral services for Sid were Saturday, Dec. 19, 2015, at the Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Eureka. Interment followed at the Tobacco Valley Cemetery with full military honors. Memorials may be made to the Mountain View Manor in Eureka. Arrangements were under the care of Schnackenberg and Nelson Funeral Home of Eureka.