Gene LeRoy Skramstad, 94
Gene LeRoy Skramstad, of Kalispell, passed away March 17, 2017.
He was born in rural Griggs County, near Cooperstown, North Dakota, on March 26, 1922, to Martin and Amanda Skramstad. He grew up on the farm and graduated from Cooperstown High School.
He joined the U.S. Army and served with the 10th Mountain Division in Germany and North Africa during World War II. After he was discharged he returned to Cooperstown and married Edna G. Olson on Dec. 8, 1945. They moved to Fargo, North Dakota, where he graduated from Dakota Business College. They lived in Fargo for a short while prior to moving to Grand Forks, North Dakota, where he was the credit manager for Nash Finch Co. They moved from Grand Forks to Minot, North Dakota where he held many sales positions selling automobiles, farm equipment, vacuum cleaners and insurance. It was once said that he could sell a vacuum cleaner to a home without electricity. They moved to Bottineau, North Dakota where he continued to sell automobiles and farm equipment.
In 1971 they moved to Kalispell where he continued to sell automobiles. He and Edna opened the El Rancho Chuck Wagon Café in 1973. In his spare time he processed wild game. He was a contributing author to the “North American Hunting Club Cookbook.” He was the writer and author of the “Hunter’s Guide and Cookbook,” and “101 Ways to fix Venison.”
A licensed pilot, he enjoyed flying from Minot to Cooperstown to have breakfast with his mother and dad. An avid hunter and sportsman he loved the outdoors, hunting and fishing. He enjoyed going to Malta to hunt and visit his great relatives Bud and Rhoda Johnson.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Edna, a brother Arthur, a sister Frances and a granddaughter Shannon.
He is survived by sons, Allan (Merron), Dennis, Bradley (Cindy) and a daughter Sheryl (Monte), seven grandchildren Tracy, Lisa, Scott, Jon, Erik, Cody, Ashlee, six great-grandchildren and his faithful companion “Lucky.”
In lieu of flowers please send donations to American Heart Association/ American Stroke Association, PO BOX 742030 Los Angeles, CA 90074-2030.
A public viewing will be held from 1 to 2 p.m. on Friday, March 24, at Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home with a funeral service to follow. A graveside service will follow at C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery.
Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home is caring for the family.