Eugene Edward Lanquist, 94

Eugene Edward Lanquist passed away on Dec. 31, 2016, at home in Kalispell.

He was born Sept. 21, 1922, to Carl and Gerta Swenson Lanquist in Santa Barbara, California. He was the seventh of nine children.

He served in the 4th Division of the Marines during World War II. He was in the Pacific, the Marshall Islands, Tinian, Saipan and Iwo Jima. He received the Purple Heart after being injured on Iwo Jima. He still had the shrapnel in his leg when he died. Doctors could not remove it without damaging too many muscles so they left it.

He was a master carpenter and cabinet maker with a 75-year membership in the Carpenters Union and also the Lumbermen and Millwright Union.

Gene was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Elmer, Carl, Wilbur, Robert and Donald; and his sister, Helen Toppings. Gene was loved by his family, especially the children for his gentleness and he loved being a dad and grandpa.

He is survived by his wife of 29 years, Arvella; children, Rosanna and Rick Jensen of Niota, Illinois, Mike and Sherry Burkhart of North Pole, Alaska, Jim and Renee Burkhart of Spokane, and Bill and Whitney Burkhart of Kalispell; grandchildren, Chris and Amanda Burkhart, Heather and Ryan “Fred” Kopman, Nikki and Arturo Cervantes, Breanna Jensen Bedard, Rick and Kortney Jensen, Macayla Jensen, and Sabina and Alexander Burkhart; and stepgrandchildren, Colton Mosby and Norah Marler; three great-grandsons, Maddix Kopman, Brody and Landon Cervantes; his brother, Bert and Gladys Lanquist of Madras, Oregon; his sister, Susy Walston, of Bakersfield, California; and numerous nephews and nieces.

Per Gene’s request, he was cremated and the family will have a service for him when they can get together.

His family wishes to thank Frontier Hospice for their help and support and also Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home.