Carlton Nestegard, 101

Carlton Nestegard passed away peacefully on Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017 at 3 a.m. at the Brendan House in Kalispell at the age of 101 years and three months.

Carlton Sylvester Nestegard was born Sept. 10, 1916 in Fillmore, North Dakota to Sander Knute and Christina Mari (Torgerson) Nestegard.

Carlton came to the Flathead Valley in 1936 and worked for the C.C.C. building roads. He then went to work for the Forest Service in 1938 in Olney where he met Nita Josephine Nelson. They were married Oct. 15, 1938 in Kalispell and spent the first winter as custodians of the Forest Service Camp, 11 miles northeast of Olney, snowshoeing in and out during the winter. He worked in the woods and as a mechanic most of his life until retirement.

During World War II, they moved to Renton, Washington where he worked in the ship yards as a machinist. They moved back to Kalispell in 1942 where their first son, Gary Carlton Nestegard, was born on Jan. 8, 1942. Their second son Larry Jackie Nestegard, was born Oct.17, 1945.

He was preceded in death by his parents; younger brother, Sander Charles Nestegard; half-brothers, Louis Sander Bernard Nestegard, Burnell Olson; his oldest son, Gary; wife, Nita; and great-grandson, Tyler.

Carlton is survived by half brother, Donald Lee Nestegard and wife Pat; sister-in-law, Elaine Nestegard and sister-in-law, Rosland Olson; his son, Larry and wife Maren of Kalispell; daughter-in-law, Jewel Henneman and husband Bob of Kalispell; three grandchildren, Chris and wife Kim Nestegard, Tim Nestegard and LaSenna, and Allison Hawes and husband Todd; five great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren, and many, many friends.

A viewing will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 3 at 10 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Chapel at 1380 Whitefish Stage in Kalispell. A funeral will follow at 11 am. Interment will be at Glacier Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Kalispell.

Darlington Cremation and Burial Service is caring for Carlton’s family.