Horace W. 'Bill' Driver, 94

Horace W. “Bill” Driver, 94, passed on Nov. 6, 2016, surrounded by family in Billings, due to natural causes.

Dad was born Nov. 11,1921, in Malta to parents William H. Driver and Margaret (Jurgens) Driver, homesteaders. He attended grade school in a one-room country school at Hillsdale School, After eighth grade graduation he attended high school in Malta. He graduated in May 1939. He then went to Helena to a trade school and the military sped up his education so he could be an aircraft engine mechanic. He was drafted into the military March 1943 and became a part of the 456th Bomb Group and was stationed in Italy. He took great pride in his military service.

He returned to the States in 1945 and went to Montana State College in Bozeman, graduating in May 1950, His first job was in the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service and began in Plentywood. The summer of 1950 he met Betty Lindberg at the Phillips County Fair. They were married in March 1951. To this union two daughters were born.

In 1960, the family was transferred to Helena where we enjoyed many trips to the mountains for camping, hunting and fishing. In 1966, the family transferred to Sidney where the family remained until his retirement after 32 years of service. Dad continued to work for a large, local farm. You can take the boy off the farm, but you can’t take the farm out of the boy.

Dad and Mom finally retired in Bigfork, returning to the mountains they so loved.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Dale, wife Betty, an infant son, and an infant granddaughter.

Survivors include daughters, Cheryl (Mike Reece) and Debbi (Mark) Gage; grandchildren, Kelsie (Chris) Aldrich, Nathan and Alex Gage’ and great-granddaughter Madilyn Grace. He is also survived by sister-in-law Gayle (Floyd) Johnson and nephew Kendall.

Services will be held at 2 p.m. Dec. 3 at Bethany Lutheran Church in Bigfork. Cremains will be buried at Bethany Lutheran Church Cemetery, with military honors.

Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home is caring for the family.