William Ernest Henderson, 88 Mary Ann Henderson, 83

An eternal love story continues in heaven as William Ernest Henderson, who died peacefully at his home in Kalispell on July 27, 2018, joins his wife Mary Ann Henderson, who died on Sept. 18, 2016.

William was born May 28, 1930, the fifth child of six, to Ernest and Margaret Henderson. William grew up on the family homestead in Madoc, Montana, where he assisted his father in farming the land. He graduated from Scobey High School in 1949.

Mary Ann was born Jan. 3, 1933, the middle child of three, to Chris and Selma Veis. Mary Ann grew up in Scobey and attended Scobey High School. She was a member of the band and graduated in 1951.

William and Mary Ann met in Scobey as teenagers. In their courtship, Mary Ann worked at the movie theater where William liked to frequent. In 1952, William was drafted, joined the Marine Corps and left for his basic training. Mary Ann followed closely behind and joined William in Tennessee.

William and Mary Ann were married on Nov. 22, 1952, in Memphis, Tennessee. After finishing training, William was stationed in California where he helped educate pilots with flight simulators. In 1954, William received an honorable discharge from the Marines and they moved back to Scobey to take care of the farm. For a few years, William and Mary Ann worked tirelessly to provide for a growing family by working the farm, running a clothing store and driving a school bus. In 1967, William and Mary Ann purchased the Vacationer Hotel in Kalispell. After running the hotel for four years, William trained to be a financial planner with Waddell & Reed and, in 1971, they sold the hotel and moved into their final home. Mary Ann began working at Kalispell Junior High School as an office administrative assistant in 1977 and worked there for almost 20 years. William and Mary Ann officially retired in 1998 and they continued to live in their Kalispell home as well as their winter home in Lake Havasu City, Arizona.

William and Mary Ann were married for over 60 years with five children, eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. They were very active members in the church and attended St. Matthew’s Catholic Church for over 40 years.

William and Mary Ann will always be remembered for the eternal love and devotion they had for each other. In the last few years of Mary Ann’s life, she had Alzheimer disease that required professional care. William would not leave her side as he went to visit her every day until she passed.

Mary Ann was preceded in death by her parents Chris and Selma Veis, along with her brother Vern Veis.

Surviving is her brother Larry Veis who resides in Phillipsburg.

William was preceded in death by his parents Ernest and Margaret Henderson, along with his sisters Eileen Naughton, Jean Parker, Patricia Sanborn and Jackie Cavanagh. William was also preceded in death by Mary Ann and their son Dana Henderson.

He is survived by his brother Thomas Henderson who resides in Billings. Also surviving are Kenneth Henderson, wife Cindy and children Cassandra Lloyd and Angela Catanese; Donald Henderson; Linda DeVoe, husband Tony and daughter Melissa Phillips; Gary Henderson, wife Julie and children Lauren, Sarah and Andrew, Dana’s wife Sheila and children Kaylee Henderson and Brooke Henderson.

A rosary service for William and Mary Ann will be held at 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 10, at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home. The memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 11, at St. Matthew’s Catholic Church followed by a reception, with the burial service at C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery immediately after.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to send St. Matthew’s Parish or Frontier Hospice.

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.