Virgil Allen Walter, 91

Virgil Allen Walter, 91, surrounded by his family, passed away peacefully at Brendan House in Kalispell on Dec. 2, 2017.

Virgil was born in Polson, June 8, 1926, to Herman and Mary Walter, one of seven children.

He was 8 years old when his mother passed away and, due to economic times, he was placed in the Children’s Home in Twin Bridges, where he resided for four years.

Primary education was at the Little Red School House in Lakeside, later attending Flathead County High School. At the age of 16 he started working at various places in the Flathead Valley, later moving to Spokane to work in a meat packing plant. With one of his brothers they moved to Bainbridge, Washington, to work in the ship yards. Virgil then joined the Navy, starting his training at Farragut Naval Training Station in Idaho. He shipped to Hawaii on the USS Essex Air Craft Carrier. Virgil volunteered to be an aircraft mechanic and was assigned as a flight engineer to a PBY air sea rescue squad stationed on Johnson Island for the duration of World War II. He was honorably discharged April 25, 1946. He was re-activated to service in 1950 and stationed in Okinawa during the Korean conflict and honorably discharged in 1951.

After World War II, Dad met, and married, Fern Albert, on April 15, 1946, in Kalispell at the First Presbyterian Church and they became active longtime members. Their marriage produced three children, six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Dad worked at Ferguson’s Shoe for approximately four years and then joined American Timber Company.

In 1951 be began his long association with Royal Logging. Starting as choker setter, jammer, heel boom operator, logging foreman, logging supervisor and to logging manager. Always a perfectionist in his work, he expected the same from others. His employees named him “Cougar” which meant “Do it right the first time.” It was a term of humor and respect. He retired from Royal Logging in 1985. He worked for Walter Company with son Michael for the next 10 years until Mom took Michael aside and suggested that his father needed to retire, which he did. In retirement they spent many winters enjoying the sunshine in Arizona and California.

After 54 years of marriage Fern passed away May 3, 2001.

Civic Service was very important to Virgil. He served as a two-term member of the board of directors of the Evergreen Water System, which he helped establish; president of Evergreen Lions Club, where he was also zone chairman and deputy district governor of 370; director of the Pacific Logging Conference; president of Hoo-Hoo International, Northwest Montana Chapter 187, and in 1986 was chosen “Logger of The Year.” He was also co-chairman of the Big Sky Logging Show.

Another great source of satisfaction was his eight-year affiliation with the ALERT Ambulance System, serving three times as its president and establishing a continuing fundraising activity that helps to this day assure the performance of ALERT. In April 1980, Virgil had the honor of flying in a newly purchased ALERT helicopter from the factory in Fort Worth, Texas, with chief pilot Dan Scalf and Clyde Smith.

April 21, 2006, Virgil married Charlotte Hillstead in Polson. They resided in California and later in Kalispell until his death. He and Charlotte were active members of the Disciples of Christ Church in Kalispell.

Dad had a great love for the outdoors and truly enjoyed bird hunting with his beloved golden retrievers, grandson and longtime hunting buddies. Fondest memories of our childhood were spending weekends at the lake boating, swimming and water skiing with our family along with family vacations and wonderful Sunday dinners.

Virgil was preceded in death by his parents; five siblings; and his wife of 54 years, Fern Walter.

Surviving Virgil are his wife, Charlotte; sister, Mildred Walter, of California; daughters, Sandy Wheeler and spouse Terry, and Sharon Sevier and spouse Tom; and son, Michael Walter; grandchildren Mark J. Lamoreux, Amie Stevenson, Mathew Sevier, Jennifer Roettig,

Amber Walter and Levi Walter; with eight great-grandchildren; and Charlotte’s children, Billy, Nancy and Janice, all of Washington state.

The family had private gravesite burial on Friday, Dec. 8, at the Glacier Memorial Gardens. The service was officiated by Glenn Burfeind. The family is planning a celebration of life sometime in May or June 2018.

If you would like to contribute in memory of Virgil, you may contribute to the ALERT Foundation or charity of your choice.

When our father left Brendan House for the last time the ALERT helicopter was preparing to lift off. It seemed so appropriate, as though ALERT was taking Dad for his final flight.