Ernest 'Ernie' Goss

BIGFORK - Ernest "Ernie" Goss, 88, died on July 18, 2004, in Bigfork. He was born on March 27, 1916, in Elmdale, to Willard 0. Goss and Bessie Hullings Goss. He grew up on the homestead and attended schools in the Elmdale community in eastern Montana, graduating from the Sidney High School.

Ernie always said that "growing up during the depression was an education in itself."

Ernie joined the Army in 1941, working mainly in supply with the military police, while serving in Fort Bragg, N.C. He met and married Annie Lou Whaley in 1945. Upon discharge from the Army, Ernie and his bride moved to eastern Montana, where he worked at various jobs.

In 1947 they moved to Kalispell, at the time of the Hungry Horse Dam construction. He and Annie Lou had five daughters; two were lost at infancy. Surviving daughters are Margaret Ann Carter of California, Carolyn Jane Barlow of Seattle, and Teena Wood of Portland.

After 16 years their marriage ended in divorce and he later married Goldie Moir from Saco. They were married 26 years until Goldie's death in September 2003.

Ernie is survived by his three daughters; three granddaughters, two great-granddaughters; five great-grandson, and three special friends, Dorothy, Jeanette and Maxine.

Ernie worked several years as a Bon Ton Bread salesman and retired in 1980 from the Kalispell School District as supply and distribution manager.

Ernie was a man of many talents, including, sculpturing, carpentry, and other creative ideas. He was responsible for creating the logo, "I Love Montana, I Wanta Go Baa-aa-ck," depicting four sheep jumping over a fence. He sold several thousand post cards, T-shirts, coffee mugs, pens, etc., all over Montana and the world.

He also created and sold hundreds of a sculpture based on the Rocky Mountain goat, the logo of The Great Northern Railroad. He was known as the "Goat Man."

Ernie was a ballroom dancer and loved to dance, especially at the Wednesday night dances in Polson and the Kalispell Eagles.

He loved music and he wrote three songs that he eventually published; he also wrote some poems. He loved Montana and all it had to offer. "He will be known as the dancing man as he continues to dance in the hereafter."

The memorial service will at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 24, at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home, in Kalispell.

Memorial donations may be made to Home Options Hospice in Kalispell or Unity Church Worldwide, 1-800-7729.