Evan Gilbert Speer, 91
Evan Gilbert Speer of Columbia Falls passed away on Thursday, Dec.3, 2020, at the age of 91. After several years of battling Alzheimer’s, Evan died peacefully of pneumonia, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center with beloved wife Shirley, their son David and David’s wife Barbara by his side.
Evan was born in Havre on Nov. 23, 1929, to Gilbert and Mabel Speer. Evan was the fifth of seven children and following World War II, his family settled in the Flathead Valley. Evan was diagnosed with leukemia as a teenager and given a year to live. He dropped out of high school and spent the next year enjoying the great outdoors of Western Montana. It was during this year that he developed his love for the outdoors, fishing, and hunting. It was also during this time that Evan found Jesus Christ as his personal Savior, a relationship that would shape the rest of his life. After a year he went back to the doctor to find that he had been healed of leukemia, something that he later shared with his children, was a miracle healing from God. He returned to high school and in 1949 graduated from Flathead County High School with his younger brother Hugh.
During his high school years, he joined the National Guard and met the woman who would one day be his wife and soulmate, Shirley Mae Emmert. Following high school on July 27, 1952, Evan married Shirley. He and Shirley then moved to Columbus, Georgia, where he attended military school. During his time in Georgia, Shirley gave birth to their oldest of five children, Eugene. Evan and Shirley’s second son, David, was born in Oklahoma while attending a second military school. After a short time in Colorado, the family moved back to the Flathead Valley where Evan and Shirley made Columbia Falls their permanent home. Their third son, Glen was born in Whitefish. On Evan’s birthday in 1966, the family adopted Kathy and Lea. Evan would spend a total of 41 years serving his country in the National Guard before retiring. Evan had several jobs before finding work at the Anaconda Aluminum Plant where he was employed for 28 years retiring at the age of 55.
Evan was known as a man of integrity and honor. He had a love for hunting, fishing and the outdoors, which he passed on to his children. He served his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ all of his life, serving as a deacon in two churches and as a Sunday school teacher. He loved to read and study the Bible and would often have folks into his home to share about the Bible.
Evan was preceded in death by his parents, Gilbert and Mabel; and Gilbert’s second wife, Lelah; by his brothers, Alvin, Roy and Hugh; sisters, Dee and Evelyn; and his youngest son, Glen.
He is survived by his wife, Shirley; sister, Jeanette DeCarrico, of Portland; children, Eugene Speer and Randa, of Regina, Saskatchewan, David Speer and Barbara of Columbia Falls, Kathy Box and Kelvin of Riverton, Utah, and Lea Lauria of San Antonio, Texas; as well as a host of grandchildren and great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews.
A graveside service, officiated by Pastor Randy Olson, will be held at Glacier Memorial Gardens on Saturday, Dec. 12, at 1 p.m. Family and close friends are welcome to attend. Due to coronavirus restrictions, Evan’s memorial service will not be held until sometime in the summer of 2021, the date and time to be announced later.
People wishing to honor Evan are asked to make donations in Evan’s memory to the First Baptist Church of Whitefish.
Friends are encouraged to visit the website www.buffalohillfh.com to leave notes of condolence for the family. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family.
