Harry W. Menkens, 94

Harry W. Menkens, 94, passed away the evening of Oct. 12, 2016, at Lake View Care Center in Bigfork.

He was born in Bloomfield, Nebraska, on July 17, 1922. He had five siblings, including a twin brother. His childhood was spent playing and working on the family farm. After high school graduation he spent time working at various farms until enlisting in the Coast Guard in 1942. After basic training in Florida, he was stationed in New Hampshire where he met his future wife, Charlotte Odiorne.

He served on the troop transport, The Wakefield, sailing out of Boston to Europe, making 22 round trips across the Atlantic during World War II.

After the war, he returned to Nebraska to take up his life as a stock and grain farmer, but first he went back to New Hampshire to marry his wartime sweetheart Charlotte on Dec. 28, 1947. They would have been married 69 years this December. From that union they had one son, Randall Menkens.

Upon retirement from farming, he and Charlotte moved to Bigfork to be near their son who worked for the U.S. Forest Service. Harry loved to fish, golf and dance.

Being a forward thinking, hard working, happy man who was giving toward others, he met many wonderful friends along his life’s journey.

Memorials or donations may be sent to the Lake View Healthcare employees’ fund, care of Jasmine, at Lake View Healthcare Community, 1050 Grand Drive, Bigfork, MT 59911.