Wade A. Mason, 86

Wade A. Mason, 86, passed away peacefully at home on April 28, 2017, surrounded by his loving wife and children.

He was born Feb. 10, 1931, in Glendive to Harry Mason and Lela Percy Mason.

Wade spent his childhood in the Pacific Northwest and graduated from Benson Polytechnic High School in Portland in 1949. That education enabled Wade to enter the workforce as a highly skilled tradesman and problem solver. He continued his lifelong love of learning with extensive reading of history, archeology, the natural world and music.

Wade married Carol L. Solhjem on May 8, 1958. They had four children and moved to Kalispell in 1964 to raise them.

He was a great provider for his family, always busy working at auto body repair and as an electrician at Anaconda Aluminum Plant. In his spare time Wade maintained a large garden and built two homes for his family — one in Kalispell and one on Flathead Lake. He also restored classic cars, earned his private pilot’s license and loved to help his kids build or maintain their homes and cars. Wade and Carol traveled extensively in retirement and enjoyed many warm winters in Arizona.

When he wasn’t working, Wade loved being outdoors in his native Montana. He enjoyed fishing and hunting and spent many fall weekends tracking elk with his son, grandsons and friends. He was always an enthusiastic audience for his kids or grandkids learning to play musical instruments and all their varied interests.

Wade was an active member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Kalispell and Eidsvold Lutheran Church in Lakeside. In addition, Wade faithfully assisted with any and all kinds of maintenance issues at Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp.

Wade was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Milton.

His survivors include his wife, Carol, of Kalispell, daughter Barbara (Dennis Peterson) of Kalispell, son Douglas (Ashley) of Kalispell, daughter Patricia (Steve Anderson) of Burlingame, California and daughter Sheryl (Cris Miller) of Champlin, Minnesota. He cherished his nine grandchildren: Joseph, Alex and Hannah Peterson; Annika and Brynn Mason; Peter and Finn Anderson; and Gabe and Annie Miller.

Wade was greatly loved and will be greatly missed.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m., July 29 at Eidsvold Lutheran Church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Samaritan House or Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp.